We Need A British Trump: Ex-PM Elizabeth Truss Makes Big Statement

London: Former British prime minister Elizabeth Truss on Saturday pitched for bringing "best of reforms", fixing some arrangement in "powerful bureaucracy" in United Kingdom and creating a movement akin to one in US that led to "big changes" re.

"Frankly, I think we need a British Trump. question is who that individual might be," she said and cited US President-elect Donald Trump's "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) movement.

During an interaction session at HT Leership Summit 2024, Truss also said India has a "huge role" to play in "future of geopolitics" as world's largest democracy.

Truss, who served as British prime minister for just 49 days in 2022, was asked about ties between India and UK amid changing geopolitical situations.

"I think where we are now is a very positive relationship. I really hope that we get tre deal over line. UK and India have so much to benefit from each or in areas like technology, defence, agriculture. I think re are huge opportunities," she said.

But also, India is now world's largest country by population and world's largest democracy. It has a "huge leership role to play in future. And I think it is incredibly exciting", she ded.

On India-UK free-tre agreement, Truss said it is "absolutely a relationship of equals", ding that both parties will have to make concessions in order to get a tre deal done.

She also emphasised that India's role in Qu is "very important with respect to United States, UK and Japan, "particularly, as we see, a rising threat of China taking place".

During conversation, former British prime minister took a critical view of European economy and said "our continent is sinking".

Citing GDP per capita in UK, she lamented that it is below corresponding figure in US.

Truss also said some arrangement in British bureaucracy "needs to be fixed" and that she would like to see "best of reforms".

"So what I am interested in, how can we create that movement, a bit like 'MAGA' movement or tea-party movement in US that led to big changes we are seeing. Frankly, I think we need a British Trump. question is who that individual might be," she said.

Asked by host wher she would want to play that role, former prime minister gave a response with a dry sense of humour.

"I have alrey put my fingers in fire and h m severely burnt, but that is of approach that we now need to get change in Britain," she said.

So what people of UK want is "same kind of revolution that Trump is delivering in America", which is actually taking on left-wing establishment, giving more power to people, giving more opportunities to businesses, making it easier to run a successful enterprise, Truss ded.

"But we have a very powerful bureaucracy that wants to keep us attached to Europe," she argued.

It does not want UK to sign tre deals with US or India and wants to continue this status quo. That is a "battle" that is still going on in UK, Truss said.

She said she wants to see UK "completely dump EU regulations" and sign tre deals with countries like India and US.

During conversation, Truss praised return of Trump to White House several times, as also India's growing role on world stage.

She also said she feels that under President Trump, "we are seeing a revival of US strengths".

Truss said in UK, she was on record praising fact that Trump h won US presidential election.

Trump is all set to be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony scheduled to be held in January after his resounding victory in US presidential election in November. This will be his second term in White House.

" Trump revolution that we are seeing in US, that is coming to Europe. You can see dissatisfaction in France, Germany with economic stagnation. That dissatisfaction is coming to Europe, so you are going to see major changes in Europe as well as in Britain in next five to 10 years," Truss said when asked about ro ahe for her continent.

host also asked how she looked at third successive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Truss termed it a "massive achievement".

"I think Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term.... It is an incredible achievement to get elected in current environment. Every or single incumbent government across world has got booted out of office," she said.

Australia, UK, it is going to happen in Cana, it happened in US to Democrats, so "it is a massive achievement to remain in office and it is a testament to economic reforms taking place in India, and people are feeling that country is going in right direction", she ded.

"I think India has a huge role to play in future of geopolitics as world's largest democracy. I would like to hear more from India on global debates and I think with Trump presidency, re is an opportunity to reshape how international relations work," former British prime minister said.

Truss was also asked about shift in power globally during conversation.

"re has definitely been a global shift in power. Regrettably, I think re has been a shift in power towards authoritarian regimes. We have never seen Iran so emboldened, Russia in recent years, so emboldened, or indeed, China," she said.

"I would distinguish though between India and China. India is a democracy, India wants to see rule of law protected and free speech," Truss ded.