Former British Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss on Saturday advocated bringing in “the best reforms”, fixing some systems in the “powerful bureaucracy” in the United Kingdom and building a movement like the US that could lead to “big changes” there. ,
“Frankly, I think we need a British Trump. The question is who that person could be,” he said, referring to US President-elect Donald Trump’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) movement. Citing said.
During an interaction session at the HT Leadership Summit 2024 here, Truss also said that as the world’s largest democracy, India has a “big role” to play in the “future of geopolitics”.
Truss, who served as British Prime Minister for just 49 days in 2022, was asked about relations between India and Britain amid the changing geopolitical situations.
“I think where we are right now is a very positive relationship. I really hope we reach a trade deal. The UK and India will benefit a lot from each other in areas like technology, defense and agriculture .I think there are huge opportunities there,” she said.
But at the same time, India is now the world’s largest country by population and the world’s largest democracy. “It has a huge leadership role in the future. And I think that’s incredibly exciting,” he said.
On the India-UK free trade agreement, Truss said it is a “relationship of absolutely equals”, adding that both sides will have to make concessions to get a trade deal done.
He also stressed that India’s role in the Quad is “very important in relation to the United States, Britain and Japan,” especially as we see, there is a growing threat from China.
During the conversation, the former British Prime Minister took a critical view on the European economy and said, “Our continent is sinking”.
Citing GDP per capita in Britain, he lamented that it was below the corresponding figure in the US.
Truss also said that some systems in the British bureaucracy “need to be fixed” and that she would like to see “the best possible reform”.
“So I’m interested in how we can create that movement, somewhat like the ‘MAGA’ movement or the tea-party movement in America, that leads to the big changes that we’re seeing. Frankly, I “Looks like we need a British Trump. The question is who that person could be,” he said.
Asked by the host if she would like to play that role, the former prime minister responded with dry humor.
She said, “I’ve already put my fingers in the fire and got seriously burnt, but now we need a similar approach to driving change in Britain.”
So Britons want “the same kind of revolution that Trump is bringing to America”, which is really attacking the leftist establishment, giving people more power, giving businesses more opportunity, making it easier. Can be made. Run a successful enterprise, Truss said.
He argued, “But we have a very powerful bureaucracy that wants to keep us tied to Europe.”
He does not want Britain to sign trade deals with the US or India and wants to continue the status quo. It’s a “battle” that’s still going on in Britain, Truss said.
She said she would like to see Britain “completely ditch EU rules” and sign trade deals with countries like India and the US.
During the conversation, Truss also praised Trump’s return to the White House several times and India’s growing role on the world stage.
He also said that he thinks that under President Trump, “we are seeing a revival of American powers”.
Truss said that in Britain she was on record praising the fact that Trump had won the US presidential election.
Trump is all set to take oath at the inauguration ceremony in January after his landslide victory in the US presidential election in November. This will be his second term in the White House.
“The Trump revolution that we’re seeing in America is coming to Europe. You can see dissatisfaction with economic stability in France and Germany. That dissatisfaction is coming to Europe, so you’re going to see big changes in Europe as well.” Are.” As it will be in Britain over the next five to 10 years,” Truss said when asked about the way forward for his continent.
The host also asked how she viewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term and Truss described it as a “big achievement”.
“I think it is an incredible achievement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be elected to a third term… in the current environment. Every other sitting government across the world has been voted out of office,” he said.
Australia, the UK, it’s going to happen in Canada, it’s happened with the Democrats in the US, so “staying in office is a huge achievement and it’s a testament to the economic reforms that are happening in India, and the people are there,” he said. “I feel the country is going in the right direction.”
“I think India has a huge role to play in the future of geopolitics as the world’s largest democracy. I want to hear more from India on global debates and I think with Trump becoming president, international There is an opportunity to reshape relations.” ,” said the former British Prime Minister.
During the conversation, Truss was also asked about the change in power at the global level.
He said, “There has certainly been a global shift in power. Sadly, I think power has shifted toward authoritarian regimes. We have never seen Iran so bold, Russia in recent years, or indeed “We have never seen China so courageous.” ,
Truss said, “Although I would differentiate between India and China. India is a democracy, India wants to see the rule of law protected and freedom of expression protected.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
