LONDON/MUMBAI – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has firmly ruled out any relaxation of UK visa rules for Indian workers or students, even as he leads the largest ever UK trade delegation to India to capitalize on a recently signed bilateral trade agreement. The Prime Minister’s stance underscores the Labour government’s commitment to cutting overall immigration levels, prioritizing domestic policy constraints over potential concessions for key trading partners.
Speaking in Mumbai, Sir Keir emphasized that the purpose of the visit—which included over 100 entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and university heads—was to leverage the multi-billion-pound trade deal, secured in July. He asserted that the trade agreement, which will make UK exports like cars and whisky cheaper in India and Indian textiles and jewellery cheaper in the UK, “played no part” in immigration changes, a situation that remains unchanged. The PM noted that no business leader on the trip had “raised with me the question of visas,” reinforcing his position.
Despite the immigration red line, the visit resulted in significant cultural and economic announcements. Sir Keir announced that Yash Raj Films will end an eight-year hiatus by producing three Bollywood films in the UK from 2026, a move Downing Street linked to the trade deal, projecting 3,000 new jobs. Furthermore, British Airways and Manchester Airport announced new direct flight routes to Delhi, signaling a major boost to connectivity. Sir Keir reiterated the UK’s desire to attract “top talent” globally to fuel economic growth but maintained there are no plans for new visa routes specifically for India, demonstrating a clear focus on managed, high-value economic engagement.
