Howard Lutnick, the United States Secretary of Commerce, recently took to X and hailed Indian-origin British political adviser Varun Chandra while describing him as a “trusted friend” and an “excellent figure” of the Great Britain. “Always great to be with Varun Chandra. He is an excellent representative of Great Britain and a trusted friend. Our partnership is deep and the future looks bright.,” Luttnick said in his post. But who exactly is Varun Chandra, and why does he hold such influence in business and government circles?
Who is Varun Chandra?
Varun Chandra is a British political adviser and businessman with Indian roots. He was born in 1984 to immigrant parents in South Shields in northeast England. He currently works at 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Special Adviser on Business and Investment, where he has played a key part in UK-US trade talks, including helping to secure a trade agreement with the Trump administration.
Chandra’s career covers finance and strategic advisory work. He has previously worked at Lehman Brothers and also served as a managing partner at Hakluyt, a firm known for its corporate intelligence and high-level strategy. He is widely viewed as someone who connects business leaders and government decision-makers with ease.
Because of his close ties with senior figures in the Trump administration, including Lutnick, Chandra is also seen as a leading contender to become the UK’s next ambassador to the United States.
How Chandra has emerged as a key figure in UK-US trade talks
According to The Guardian, Varun Chandra does not hold an official trade position in the UK government, but his frequent presence in Washington shows how influential he has become in Keir Starmer’s team. At 40, he is seen as someone with business connections that few others in the Labour government can match.
Quoting a Whitehall official, Guardian said that Chandra has become an important link at the heart of government, working closely with figures such as chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, national security adviser Jonathan Powell, delivery chief Liz Lloyd, and international economic affairs head Michael Ellam.
Another Downing Street insider told the Guardian that Chandra is widely respected across departments, and that his guidance to ministers has played a major role in shaping major decisions and key relationships.
Ben Wegg Prosser, who is a friend of Chandra and the head of the consultancy Global Counsel, said that the Trump administration has had an unusually strong influence on global politics, and that Chandra has been able to understand these shifts and advise UK ministers effectively throughout the process.