International

Keir Starmer's UK-India trade mission prioritises investment over visa loosening

Wednesday, 8 October 2025 4:06AM UTC

Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed that the UK's upcoming trade mission to India will focus on boosting economic ties and investment, while maintaining strict visa policies, despite pressures from Indian businesses seeking more flexible entry for skilled workers.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has firmly ruled out any future expansion of visa allowances for Indian workers in the UK, underscoring that such measures are not part of current or forthcoming plans. This clear stance emerges as he embarks on his first official trade mission to India, accompanied by over 100 British business leaders from various sectors, with the aim of capitalising on the recently signed UK-India free trade agreement. Sir Keir emphasised that the trip focuses on boosting investment and business ties rather than revisiting immigration policies.

The free trade agreement, signed in July following prolonged negotiations, is hailed as the UK’s most significant post-Brexit trade deal. It aims to reduce tariffs on key British exports, including whisky and automobiles, and is projected to increase bilateral trade by approximately £25.5 billion by 2040. Starmer highlighted that the deal serves as a "launchpad for growth," especially as India is expected to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. Among the delegation are high-profile companies such as BP, Rolls-Royce, BT, and Diageo, alongside university vice-chancellors and cultural leaders keen to strengthen UK-India educational and cultural collaboration.

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the trade deal, Starmer was clear in addressing demands from Indian business leaders and some UK sectors for more visas, particularly for highly skilled professionals in IT and other industries. He responded that the visa situation remains unchanged as a result of the agreement and reiterated, "No, that isn't part of the plans." This stance reflects a broader UK government policy to tighten immigration controls amid domestic political pressures and public concern about immigration levels. While the UK is open to attracting global talent, it is not seeking special visa provisions for Indian workers, contrasting with previous US policies that tightened visa access under former President Donald Trump.

The Labour leader's position also takes into account an existing returns agreement with India, which he described as a "non-issue" in terms of deportation and security cooperation. Starmer noted ongoing considerations about potentially linking visa issuance to a country’s willingness to take back its nationals, signalling a cautious and firm approach to immigration that balances economic ambitions with domestic political realities.

The Prime Minister pointed out that business growth and prosperity should stem from enhanced business-to-business engagement supported by the trade deal rather than immigration changes. British Airways and Manchester Airport, for example, are increasing direct flights to India to support expanding economic interaction. Additionally, prominent British universities, which have a historic presence in India, are among the delegation looking to expand educational collaboration—not through visa concessions but through building institutional ties.

This diplomatic trade mission, described by Downing Street as the largest UK government trade mission to India, seeks to capitalise on the lowered tariffs and new market access created by the landmark agreement. Part of the deal that attracted controversy domestically was the exemption of Indian workers temporarily seconded to the UK and their employers from national insurance contributions for three years—a long-standing issue that had delayed the agreement's conclusion but was ultimately agreed upon, marking a significant concession to India. This aspect has drawn criticism from some UK politicians who see it as creating a "two-tier" tax system, especially given recent increases in national insurance contributions for UK employers.

In sum, while the free trade deal promises substantial economic opportunities, Sir Keir Starmer’s government remains firm on immigration controls, prioritising trade and investment growth without loosening visa restrictions for Indian workers. This approach reflects a balancing act between deepening UK-India economic ties and addressing domestic political concerns about immigration.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15171853/Keir-Starmer-trade-mission-India-visas-workers.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-not-seeking-visa-deal-with-india-starmer-says-2025-10-07/ - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK will not seek a visa agreement with India, despite efforts to strengthen economic relations following a new free trade agreement signed in July and set to take effect next year. Starmer, who is visiting India with a business trade mission, emphasized that visas had previously hindered trade negotiations and are not part of the current discussions. His visit includes talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the focus will remain on leveraging the trade deal. Amid public concern over immigration, Starmer is maintaining a restrictive stance, stating that the UK will not offer special visa provisions to attract Indian tech professionals, contrasting with U.S. policies under President Trump. However, he affirmed a broader goal to attract global talent. On deportations, Starmer noted that India poses no issue due to an existing returns agreement, though he is considering broader policies linking visas to a country’s willingness to take back nationals.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-visits-india-build-business-ties-after-clinching-trade-deal-2025-10-07/ - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has commenced a two-day visit to India, accompanied by more than 100 leaders from the business, cultural, and academic sectors, to bolster a newly signed UK-India free trade agreement. The trade deal, finalized in July during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, aims to reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods including textiles, whisky, and automobiles, and expand business market access. Negotiations had lasted three years before concluding in May 2025. The agreement, touted as the UK’s most significant post-Brexit trade deal, is expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) by 2040. Starmer emphasized the deal not just as a formal agreement but as a "launchpad for growth", especially given India's projected rise to the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. High-level companies such as BP, Rolls-Royce, BT, and Diageo are part of the delegation. UK-based airlines like British Airways and Manchester Airport plan to expand direct flights to Delhi. A major benefit of the deal is the phased reduction in Indian tariffs on UK whisky from 150% to 40%. Starmer and Modi plan to ratify the deal within the next year.
https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-07/starmer-rules-out-more-uk-visas-for-highly-skilled-workers-from-india - Starmer talked about the successes of British universities in India, but said visas were not part of his conversations with university leaders. There are 14 leading university vice chancellors accompanying the prime minister on his two-day visit to India, as part of the wider business delegation. “A number of universities are established in India; they are coming to export their businesses to India,” he said. “There’s no question of visas, this is just a fantastic opportunity and that’s why they are with us. They want to build out that side of their business and a very good thing too.” Business leaders have previously signalled scepticism of some of the government's attempts to limit highly skilled and graduate visas.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/uk-news/story/no-visa-deal-with-india-keir-starmer-as-uk-looks-boost-trade-ties-glbs-2799485-2025-10-08 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out any visa deal with India as he begins a two-day visit aimed at turning the new trade pact into concrete economic gains. He said visas would not be part of the discussions during his trip. Speaking to reporters, Starmer said the UK’s recently signed free trade agreement (FTA) with India would remain focused purely on trade and investment. "That isn’t part of the plans," he said when asked about expanding visa access, adding that the visit was to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we’ve already struck. "Businesses are taking advantage of the deal. But the issue is not about visas," Starmer said, stressing that Britain’s immigration policies would stay firm. Starmer’s response also flags domestic political pressures in UK. His Labour Party is facing competition from the populist Reform UK party. The British prime minister is treading carefully on immigration, which is at the focal point after the protests in the UK. He insisted that while Britain seeks top talent from around the world, there are no plans to open a new route for Indian tech professionals after US tightened its H-1B visa regime under President Donald Trump. On deportation and security cooperation, Starmer dismissed concerns about India, calling it a "non-issue" since the two countries already have a returns agreement in place. "We are looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements," he said. "It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth," Starmer said, noting that India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. "The opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/06/uk-and-india-agree-trade-deal-after-three-years-of-negotiations - Keir Starmer said the “landmark deal” with India would “grow the economy and deliver for British people and business” after a call with the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi. The deal promises a boon for the UK’s car and alcohol industries, which have suffered from the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs in the US. However, it has caused a row over a decision to exempt Indian workers who have been temporarily seconded to the UK and their employers from national insurance contributions (NICs) for three years. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, called it a system of “two-tier taxes”. The decision has also been criticised privately by some Labour MPs, given that NICs for UK employers have just been raised. The agreement, which is reciprocal and will apply to British workers temporarily seconded to India by companies with offices in both countries, was one of Delhi’s key asks in the deal and one of the longest-running sticking points up until last week. The Indian government described it as a “huge win” and “an unprecedented achievement” for its side.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is current, with the earliest known publication date being October 7, 2025. The report is based on recent events, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to India and the UK's stance on visa agreements. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: Direct quotes from Prime Minister Starmer, such as "That isn't part of the plans," were found in multiple reputable sources, including Reuters and ITV News. No discrepancies or variations in the wording of these quotes were identified.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from reputable organisations, including the Daily Mail, Reuters, and ITV News. These sources are known for their journalistic standards and credibility.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims made in the narrative align with recent developments, including the UK's free trade agreement with India and Prime Minister Starmer's statements regarding visa policies. The narrative is consistent with information from multiple reputable sources, and no inconsistencies or implausible claims were identified.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is current, with no evidence of recycled content. Direct quotes from Prime Minister Starmer are consistent across reputable sources. The information aligns with recent developments and is corroborated by multiple credible organisations.

UK-India trade deal
Immigration policy
Trade and investment
Brexit