Indian-origin minister in UK vows to create millions of jobs

The 44-year-old Gujarati-origin Priti Patel previously attended Cabinet within the David Cameron government as a junior minister

Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, UK  Photo: gov.uk
Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, UK Photo: gov.uk
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Jul 16 2016 | 5:16 PM IST
Britain's newly-promoted Indian-origin Cabinet minister Priti Patel has vowed to work for deepening international partnerships and creating millions of jobs in the developing world.

Patel, who is the senior-most Indian-origin minister in the UK government took charge as international development secretary in Prime Minister Theresa May's Cabinet earlier this week.

"We will continue to tackle the great challenges of our time - poverty, disease and the causes of mass migration, while helping to create millions of jobs in countries across the developing world - our trading partners of the future,"she said in her first statement from her Department for International Development (DfID) office in Whitehall, London's political hub, yesterday.

As one of the key campaigners for Britain to leave the European Union (EU) in the lead up to the June 23 referendum, Patel also highlighted how she plans to put some of her Brexit strategy in motion through her new ministry.

"Successfully leaving the European Union will require a more outward looking Britain than ever before, deepening our international partnerships to secure our place in the world by supporting economic prosperity, stability and security overseas. That's why my department will be working across government, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the new Department for International Trade, the Home Office and others," she said.

The 44-year-old Gujarati-origin Conservative party MP had been widely tipped for a prominent role in the new Theresa May-led government. She previously attended Cabinet within the David Cameron government as a junior minister but now finds her place among the key posts in government, with her responsibilities including managing the UK's international aid budget.

She pledged to "invest UK aidfirmly in national interest,while keeping the promises made to the world's poorest people".
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 16 2016 | 1:13 PM IST

Next Story