UK rules out India visa deal as Starmer focuses on trade
“Starmer rules out seeking a visa deal during his India trip.”
Key points
- Starmer rules out seeking a visa deal during his India trip.
- The visit centres on implementing a new UK–India trade agreement.
- Past efforts were hindered by visas; the latest pact avoids that fight.
- UK is weighing links between visas and returns agreements more broadly.
LONDON/MUMBAI: Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will not pursue a visa agreement with India as he begins a two-day visit aimed at promoting a recently agreed trade deal. Travelling with a business delegation, Starmer framed the trip as an effort to unlock commercial opportunities under the accord rather than reopening migration issues.
He noted that visa provisions helped derail earlier efforts to clinch a pact, but stressed the latest agreement carries no such component and he does not intend to revisit the topic in talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The focus, he said, is ensuring companies can take full advantage of the free-trade framework already in place.
Starmer, who has been tightening his stance on immigration amid public concern, said Britain still wants to attract top global talent. More broadly, he said his government is examining whether to link visas to returns agreements with countries that refuse to accept nationals due for deportation. He characterised that as a general policy area, adding that India is a non-issue due to its existing arrangements with the UK.
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