Exclusive | 'Sunak's 2 years were disappointing; his party not ready for July 4': Lord Karan Bilimoria on UK snap polls

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shocked everyone by announcing a snap election at Downing Street on May 22, catching even his own Conservative Party off guard. According to several experts, Britain's opposition Labour Party might be headed for its biggest election victory ever, with a recent poll predicting a thumping 194-seat majority. During an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Lord Karan Bilimoria, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and chancellor of the University of Birmingham, extensively discussed the UK's snap elections, the country's post-Brexit trajectory, a potential Labour victory, its impact on UK-India relations, and the status of the ongoing India-UK FTA negotiations. Watch: Anti-Immigrant, High Taxes: Why Sunak's Party Will Lose UK Snap Polls | Lord Bilimoria Explains When Sunak noticed that the economy, which had been in recession at the end of the previous year, showed a slight growth of 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year, and that inflation, previously at 11 per cent 18 months ago, had decreased to 2.3 per cent, nearing the desired 2 per cent, he saw it as positive economic news and decided to call for elections. Sunak's government suggests 2.5 per cent spending, but I argue for 3 per cent, or even returning to Cold War levels at 4 per cent.