India Has A Huge Cultural Influence On UK: Ex-PM Liz Truss At Ideas Of India Summit

Speaking at ABP Network's Ideas Of India Summit, Ex-British PM Liz Truss said, India has a huge cultural influence on UK. She said that we have a huge increase in the number of students from India.

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss at ABP Network's Ideas Of India Summit.

New Delhi: Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday said, India has a huge cultural influence on the United Kingdom. Speaking at ABP Network's Ideas Of India Summit, she said that what we have seen is that we have a huge increase in the number of students coming from India to the UK, which is extremely welcome. She said that we have a huge Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and India has a huge cultural influence and economic influence on Britain.

"The way we provide services between the two countries is really important and I think there is a difference between issues of legal immigration, which is a very serious issue for the UK," Truss said. We are making sure that we work with our friends and allies we have got people with the right skills coming to the UK, she added.

Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine war, Truss said that we should have sent tanks to Ukraine on time. She also said that Ukraine's NATO membership should be fast-tracked now. 

On being questioned about whether the west speaks in one voice and the how can west be trusted, Liz Truss said that this is where India has a huge role to play, being the world's biggest democracy. She said, " I don't think India is a follower, I think India is a leader. You are the world's biggest democracy, world's biggest country now by population and economic powerhouse and India as much as any other country knows the real threat that China poses, so I believe India can have a huge debate on that and also use its economic power to influence the way we all deal with China".

Speaking on the supply chains, Truss said I know many countries are now relocating their supply chains to India. She also said that Japan also has a role to play as a close neighbour of China and a key Indo-Pacific player. But what we can't do is just assume that if we do nothing, everything is goilearnedbe fine and that is what we have learnt the hard way.   

Former UK PM said, we had too much dependence on China. She also said that Europe became dependent on Russia for oil. Talking about the variety of representatives in her cabinet, Truss said, "I appoint the best people for the job." Speaking on India's membership at the UNSC, Tuss said, "I support the idea of India becoming a permanent member at UNSC".

Earlier during her address at ABP Network's Ideas Of India Summit, Truss said that the reality is that the free world is in danger. Liz Truss recalled the time when the war between Russia and Ukraine began. She said, " the reality is that in the west we have been complacent, since the end of the cold war we thought that it will be the end of history. Somehow we can take freedom for granted that we can encourage countries to be more enterprise and as a result personal freedom and democracy would follow." Speaking further on the Russia-Ukraine war Truss said, "we need to learn the lessons. We can't take freedom for granted."

Speaking during the summit, Truss also said, we need to deepen our relationship with India and we need to work closely together economically. Praisingsing India's efforts towads development, Truss said that UK needs to act like India is acting when it comes to infrastructural development.

Liz Truss is a leader of the United Kingdom's Conservative Party. She is Britain’s shortest-serving Prime Minister, lasting only 45 days. Truss had succeeded Boris Johnson as Prime Minister after ensuring a clear victory over Rishi Sunak. Queen Elizabeth II appointed Truss as the PM two days before her demise. Truss resigned as the UK PM in October 2022. Months after stepping down as the PM, Truss has been re-selected by the South West Norfolk Conservative Association as their candidate for the next general election.

ABP Network's 'Ideas of India Summit' is back. The theme of this year’s summit is 'Naya India: Looking Inward, Reaching Out'. The second edition will take place on February 24-25. The two-day summit will be graced by several eminent personalities from all walks of life sharing their views on important issues ranging from the current climate to the crisis in the global economy.

The summit will see notable speakers such as Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Minister Of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, singers Lucky Ali, and Shubha Mudgal, authors Amitav Ghosh and Devdutt Pattanaik, actresses Sara Ali Khan and Zeenat Aman, actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Manoj Vajpayee, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, sports stars Jwala Gupta and Vinesh Phogat, and many more.