Boris Johnson has been forced to postpone his trip to India after imposing a seven-week coronavirus lockdown in England.
The prime minister had hoped to use his first major bilateral foreign visit to highlight the UK’s global outlook following the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.
The January visit with Indian PM Narendra Modi was billed as an opportunity to “kick off a significant year for global Britain on the world stage” and may have presented a chance to build trade links with one of the world’s biggest economies after leaving the European single market.
But Johnson will no longer travel amid surging Covid cases in the UK and the imposition of a stringent national lockdown.
The PM called Modi on Tuesday to “express his regret” about having to postpone the visit.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to prime minister Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned.
“In light of the national lockdown announced last night, and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading, the prime minister said that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to the virus.
“The leaders underlined their shared commitment to the bilateral relationship, and to continuing to build on the close collaboration between our countries – including in response to the pandemic.
“The prime minister said that he hopes to be able to visit India in the first half of 2021, and ahead of the UK’s G7 summit that prime minister Modi is due to attend as a guest.”
Commons foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat said the delay was “unwanted”.
Johnson was due to become only the second British leader since Indian independence to attend the country’s annual republic day parade in New Delhi as a guest of honour, after Sir John Major in 1993. But he will now have to wait for that opportunity.