Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Boris Johnson on becoming the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Boris Johnson officially became Britain's new Prime Minister on Wednesday, a day after his landslide victory in the Conservative Party leadership contest.
The 55-year-old former foreign secretary and London Mayor met Queen Elizabeth II, who asked him to form a new administration, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
A picture released by the palace showed Johnson shaking hands with the 93-year-old monarch and bowing.
Congratulations @BorisJohnson on assuming office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2019
I wish you success and look forward to working with you to further strengthen India – UK partnership in all spheres. @10DowningStreet pic.twitter.com/ATWVf5fhHi
Johnson on Tuesday won the Conservative Party's leadership race to become the next Prime Minister of Britain. Johnson was widely expected to beat foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt in the battle for 10 Downing Street, which was triggered last month when a Brexit-battered Theresa May resigned amid a mounting rebellion from within the Conservative Party.
Both Johnson and Hunt had made special interventions to reach out to the party's Indian diaspora base, with Johnson promising a "new and improved" trading relationship with India if he is elected.
Indian-origin MPs Priti Patel and Rishi Sunak, both supporters of Johnson, are expected to be part of his new team.
Johnson himself has a strong connect with India, both personal and professional.
(With inputs from PTI)
1. 'Son-in-law of India'
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Johnson has in the past described himself as a son-in-law of India by virtue of his now estranged wife Marina Wheeler's Indian mother. Wheeler is the niece of late author Khushwant Singh. Her mother Dip Kaur, a Sikh, had married Daljit Singh, son of the builder Sir Sobha Singh and brother of Khushwant Singh. Marina's mother later late journalist Charles Wheeler and that is how she got the surname Wheeler.
Johnson and Wheeler got married in 1993, nearly two weeks after his divorce with first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen. Marina has stayed in touch with her cousins in India and Johnson often accompanied her on the visits.
The couple announced in September 2018 that they separated "several months ago" and had initiated divorce proceedings.
2. 'Personal connect' with Modi
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In a letter earlier this month, Johnson had played up his personal relationship with Prime Minister Modi as he promised to deliver a "truly special UK-India relationship".
"When I was with Prime Minister Modi, I stressed that the UK and India are two modern democracies who should work closely together to promote trade and prosperity, improve global security and tackle the challenges our countries face, Johnson wrote in an open letter addressed to the Indian diaspora Tory membership base," Johnson said in the letter.
"We share so many values with India the rule of law, democracy, and dynamic entrepreneurial spirit and I believe that is why India should be one of our most important partners on the global stage," he said.
If I am elected Conservative Party Leader and Prime Minister, I will work closely with our friends in the Indian Government, business and society to deliver a truly special UK-India relationship, he said.
"Boris is committed to securing a new and improved trading relationship with our friends in India and ensuring that the values we share the rule of law, democracy and dynamic entrepreneurial spirit should be at the heart of one of our most important partners on the global stage," said Priti Patel, one of the senior-most Indian-origin Tory MPs who is expected to be a part of the new premier's ministerial team as a key member of the Back Boris campaign.
3. Proponent of stronger UK-India trade ties
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In keeping with his firm pro-Brexit stance and determination to leave the European Union (EU) by the October 31 deadline, the senior Tory MP branded it a "travesty" that the 28-member economic bloc had failed to treat free trade agreement (FTA) talks with India as a priority for over a decade.
He said: "One of the most important reasons why we need to leave the European Union on October 31, 2019 is so that we can take back control over our trade policy. India is an economic powerhouse and set to become the third largest economy by the middle of the century, with annual economic growth far outpacing the EU."
"The sooner we leave the EU and take back control of our trade policy, the sooner we can strike a new trade deal with India that will deliver new jobs, growth and prosperity for both our countries. Securing this new and improved trading relationship with our friends in India will be a priority for me," he said.
4. 'Australian-style points-based system' of immigration to benefit Indians
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He also plugged his proposals for a so-called "Australian-style points-based system" of immigration, which would ensure friends, family members and business contacts in India do not face undue discrimination or barriers when seeking to work, travel or study in the UK.
5. Wants India to open up market
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During the course of the leadership electoral hustings, Johnson expressed his disappointment at UK retailers like Sainsbury's and Waitrose not being able to set up base in India and said he would like to see India opening up to more of our great brands.
He has in the past also made several interventions over the high duties imposed by India on Scotch whisky. These are likely to feature on his agenda in terms of any new trade talks with India.
India is a massive static market for the UK, but I would also like to see India opening up to more of our great brands. In India Sainsbury's can't set up, they have no Waitrose in India. Just imagine that, he had said, in his characteristic style of mock incredulity.
"Trade with China has gone up about 45 per cent in the last ten years. Trade with India has not increased, actually I think volumes have remained almost static. We need to do far more, he noted.
Johnson is set to take formal charge at Downing Street on Wednesday after Theresa May hands in her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. May, who stepped down over her failed Brexit strategy, has been functioning as a caretaker Prime Minister during the course of the leadership election.
