UK PM Starmer's India Visit Focuses On Trade Deal Without Visa Negotiations

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives in India for a two-day visit, focusing on economic ties rather than visa arrangements.

Keir Starmer has explicitly stated that visa negotiations would not be part of his agenda during his India visit.

Mumbai:

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that Britain will not pursue any visa agreements with India as he begins his two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic relations following this year's trade agreement.

Starmer's trip, which commences on Wednesday, includes a trade delegation of businesses intended to promote the trade deal that was agreed upon in May, formally signed in July, and scheduled to take effect next year.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that visa issues had previously complicated trade negotiations, but having successfully reached an agreement without visa implications, he expressed no intention to readdress this topic during his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

"That isn't part of the plans," Starmer told reporters while traveling to India when questioned about visas, emphasizing that the visit was "to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we've already struck."

"Businesses are taking advantage of that. But the issue is not about visas."

Starmer's position reflects his administration's more restrictive approach to immigration amid growing public concern about the issue, especially as his Labour Party faces competition from the populist Reform UK party in polls.

He confirmed that visas would not be offered as incentives to attract technology professionals from India, even after US President Donald Trump increased fees on H-1B visas. Nevertheless, Starmer broadly indicated his desire to attract "top talent" to Britain.

When asked whether he would cease issuing visas to individuals from countries unwilling to accept deported foreign criminals, Starmer described this as a "non-issue" with India due to an existing returns agreement, though he suggested it was a policy area under consideration more broadly.

"We are looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements," he stated.