Cameron’s Indian Kama Sutra moment?
After interviewing the Prime Minister in Delhi this morning it seems to me that David Cameron is not just attempting a love-in with India, but the full on Kama Sutra.
India is being bathed in adulation from the old colonial master turned persistent successful suitor.
And judging by the Delhi front pages the charm offensive appears to have worked.
When I pushed the PM on exactly what the UK had got in return for massive concessions on the nuclear technology transfer, those jets, and the India-friendly rhetoric on Pakistan, he said something extraordinary: “We’re actually starting to re-industrialise some of Britain,” he said pointing to a conversation he had today with Ratan Tata, the Indian industrialist who is Britain’s biggest manufacturing employer.
It is quite some claim given that in the past half decade alone UK exports to India have fallen sharply, seeing Britain slump from number 5 to number 18 in the Indian export league table.
On Pakistan, Number 10 is adamant that there’s no change in policy, yet the PM seemed keen to tone down the rhetoric.
“I don’t think it’s overshadowed anything, I think its important to speak frankly and clearly about these issues, I’ve always done that in the past and I’ll always want to do that as Prime Minister,” he told me.
I do have a suspicion that the PM’s rhetorical flush on Pakistan was by design rather than by accident. I’d expect more flexibility on the immigration cap too. But the PM denied that the Indian response to the cap showed that the policy was unworkable.
“We want to capture the benefits of immigration – it should be about quality rather than quantity,” he said.
The PM did reject suggestions that he should return some of the crown jewels to India. But he gave much, much more. The costs, assuming the Pakistan furore blows over, were minimal. The potential benefits may be seen for decades.
There are 8 comments on this post
on the button Faisal
Finaly a politician who is in on the new age of info. Only a mega idiot would lie if they know they will be found out, and we’ve had too many of those – hello! anyone can find the truth now days. And I (for one) am sick and tired of the blah blah blah comments that so many of ‘our representatives’ seem to be so in love with – either say it or practice ‘wise silence’ – i.e. a large number of them seem to be smarter when they are quite. He didn’t say anything wrong. Plus it’s only normal to expect him to first go to countries he supports and speak his mind – what else should he have done? I can’t believe he’s being ‘told off’. Although, that too is normal when I think about it. He is starting something new (something I think should have started 10 yrs ago at the latest) and anything new must be look down on – after all we are convinced we are already great. What I see in this is a sign of ‘morality’ (one of those things resiliant to time) and anything resiliant to time is good for us. – only a short-term fool rests his future on immorality; esp at an era like the one we are in.
Go David! Sorry I didn’t vote for you
I didn’t know at the time.
Faisal yet another channel 4 attempt to belittle a tory minister albeit prime minister.
It is about time politicians started to speak the truth and tell it as it is and not what they want us to believe .Just as Cleggs comments to Jack Straw that the iraq war was an illegal war .
My vote will always go to someone who tells the truth , that is why at this moment in time i could never support or vote for labour
I wonder whether it’s a good idea – or not – to encourage the people of Pakistan in their struggle to supress terrorism? Wouldn’t it be a good idea to show we are on their side and not on that of their old enemy, India?
There are many occasions when we should be careful not to make difficult situations worse. To be a part of the solution and not part of the problem.
Cameron is just a little bone-headed. He speaks first and asks questions afterwards. In that respect he’s much worse than TB ever was.
Some amends needs to be made.
You wonder whether it’s a good idea to encourage ‘anyone’ in their struggle against terrorism? Really? Why wouldn’t it be? I would think that’s something even we ordinary citizens should do.
Why is being against terrorism equal to siding with India? – how is this the same? Plus, isn’t it wrong to pick either side, but we should be against something that is just plain wrong no matter who is doing it?
I do not think this is making a bad situation worse, in fact I think this is the first move to solution – to solve a problem you have to name it first and not hide behind ‘whatever’, and he is the first politician who did.
To be honest, I don’t think anyone has any problems with ‘what’ he said but the way he said it and perhaps where he said it. Yet I find he made the right move on both. One because the political language is far past its ‘use by date’ And on the other issue he said it close enough so that it is heard (only other option was to say it in UK – would have been brushed aside), yet not in Pakistan where he would have been a guest.
[...] Re: Cameron's inflammatory comments against Pakistan: I meant Pakistanis are terroris Cameron's Kama Sutra moment in India? Faisal Islam on Economics – Cameron’s Indian Kama Sutra moment? [...]
Mel may have misunderstood my comment: I DON’T think it’s a good idea to discourage our front-line partner in their long campaign against terrorism.
Cameron’s comments in India could be dismissed as simply reflecting his inexperience and arrogance. But he does have experienced & knowledgeable people in his party with him. So why didn’t he ask them before making such inflammatory comments?
Perhaps he feels that – being a richer man than the rest of us – he must therefore be wiser?
Whatever his motivation, embarrassing Pakistani people and their government when they are suffering and fighting so hard to suppress terrorism – and to make such remarks in Delhi of all places – is damaging to the fight against terrorism.
Pakistan is used to being patronised and belittled in their long struggle against the insurgents in their NW, and those spilt over from Afghanistan, so this is just another ignorant discouragement. Others are a lot more tactful when talking about our allies and their grievous losses. Maybe Cameron will learn from this? Who knows!
I am sorry if I misunderstood you comment.
I do not see how telling it like it is without wasting time is discouraging. The ‘tactful’ approach clearily didn’t do much good since even mosques are no longer safe in Pakistan. And if Pakistan is ‘embarassed’ by the truth is it really right for them to blame the one who is pointing to the truth? Hopefully they are not too arrogant to ask for help when they need it; if they need it.
Quote: Perhaps he feels that – being a richer man than the rest of us – he must therefore be wiser? – I’m sorry, but what? Well, I’m not rich and I think that was wise; NOT acting wiser, but wiser!
As for Pakistan being/feeling patronised and belittled, it’s not just Pakistan. Almost all politicians from developed world act high and mighty in the un/less developed world. This is what they do. I think it goes hand in hand with the way they speak: speak a lot, say nothing at all, while they clearly create or at least encourage chaos. And I think the solution to this begins from them realising we are not little sheep with no time to think and no brains to think with. And hence it should start from home and this is not a bad start to…