The Conservative Friends of India held their annual reception at Conservative Party Conference last week. Once again, CF India’s reception was the largest and most attended reception with 8 Cabinet Ministers in attendance, in addition to scores of other Ministers, MPs, Lord, High Commissioners and Councillors.
It was an extra special reception with a looming Free Trade Agreement on the horizons. Guests included the Foreign Secretary Rt Hon James Cleverly MP and International Trade Secretary Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP. Both reiterated their commitment to championing an FTA.
James Cleverly and Kemi Badenoch outlined that CF India was instrumental in supporting the FTA for the government, symbolising the “Living Bridge” between India and the UK.
The Home Secretary, Rt Hon Suella Braverman was also present. Suella, also of Indian origin spoke of her family’s roots in India and her support for CF India as a long-standing member.
Former Trade Minister and now Environmental Secretary Ranil Jayawardena MP was also present. Ranil is renowned for championing the UK-India FTA and sowing the seeds for the arrangement.
Other guests included Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis MP, Digital Culture Media and Sports Secretary Michelle Donelan MP, Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education Andrea Jenkyns MP, Exchequer Secretary Felicity Buchan MP, Minister for London and Small Business Paul Scully MP, CF Patron Lord Ranger, Theresa Villiers MP, Heather Wheeler MP, Dean Russell MP, Gagan Mohindra MP, Greg Hands MP, Pam Gosal MSP, Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, Bangladesh High Commission in London HE Saida Muna Tasneem Maldives Embassy UK HE Dr Farah Faizal.
The reception was co-hosted by the Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doriaswami. It was his first audience at Conservative Party Conservative. The Indian High Commissioner mentioned his aim to help the government deliver a UK-India FTA and to further work to support the Living Bridge.
Co-Chairs Ameet Jogia MBE and Reena Ranger OBE, along with the CF India Director Nayaz Qazi thanked guests for attending. Speaking after the reception they said, “the strong presence of Parliamentarians this evening reflects how valued CF India is by the Conservative Party”.
