London: Terming as “erroneous” the claim of Brexit camp that India would benefit if the UK left the EU, a senior British minister has said such “creeping narratives” promoted by the Brexitiers are “misleading”. Appealing 1.2-million strong Indian diaspora to vote in favour of the UK staying in the European Union in the June 23 referendum, minister of state in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in charge of India Hugo Swire said Brexit camp’s claim that an exit from the EU would enable greater freedom of entry into the UK for Indians was based on imagination.
“There has been a creeping narrative promoted by the Brexitiers that somehow the Commonwealth can replace the EU as the UK’s trading bloc partner. My argument is that it is an erroneous leap of faith to take,” said Swire.
“This is all based on imagination, rather than reality. Our membership of the European Unioun does not prevent us from allowing people in from Commonwealth countries. It is not a binary decision, either EU or Commonwealth,” Swire said.
