There was a sense of déjà vu all over again as the UK Government trumpeted its trade deal with India on Tuesday.

It almost needed a quick double-take to check that it was not Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak et al who were enthusing excitedly over the trade deal.

Of course, it was not. It was the top brass of a Labour Government, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who were waxing lyrical.

Ms Reeves proclaimed: “Our landmark trade deal with India will unlock growth in every corner of the country - from advanced manufacturing in the north-east [of England] to whisky distilleries in Scotland.
“This Government is putting national interest first and more money in people's pockets.”

It was far more obvious that Sir Keir was “putting national interest first” when he was arguing vociferously and vehemently against Brexit back in late 2019.

He has since embraced the key elements of the Tory hard Brexit: loss of free movement of people between the UK and the European Economic Area and the ending of frictionless trade between the UK and its biggest trading partner.

And Brexit is very relevant in the context of the India trade deal.

The........

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