Can Keir Starmer fast-track UK-India FTA implementation?

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai on 8 October for his first official visit to India, leading the United Kingdom's (UK) largest-ever trade delegation of 125 CEOs, university leaders and cultural figures to accelerate the implementation of the landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

Addressing business leaders at a roundtable, Starmer described the July 2025-signed deal—India's largest ever—as a "game-changer" post-Brexit, projecting £28 billion in annual trade boosts by 2030 through reduced tariffs on goods like Scotch whisky, EVs and textiles. He meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 October for bilateral talks on defence, AI and fintech, coinciding with the Global Fintech Fest, but ruled out visa relaxations, prioritising economic ties over migration.

The visit, building on Modi's July UK trip, underscores a "reset" in relations amid global shifts like US tariffs, with Starmer eyeing India as a key partner for the UK's growth agenda.

Starmer's arrival and trade mission launch

Starmer touched down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid tight security, greeted by Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan and a ceremonial guard.

Posters lining Mumbai streets welcomed him with messages of "unparalleled opportunities," reflecting the FTA's hype.

At the launch event, he emphasised: "This is the biggest trade mission the UK has ever sent to India—it's the return leg after PM Modi's visit to sign our FTA."

The delegation includes heads from Barclays, AstraZeneca and the British Film Institute, targeting £10 billion in new investments in renewables and digital health.

Starmer hailed the pact as "the biggest deal since Brexit," slashing duties on 90% of goods and services, potentially creating 50,000 UK jobs and easing Indian access to premium UK markets. He urged ratification "as soon as humanly possible," aiming for a 2026 rollout to counter US protectionism. 

On X, users buzzed with optimism, one posting: "Starmer's Mumbai mission: FTA fast-track for £28bn trade boost—Swadeshi meets Scotch!" 

No concessions on visas amid migration talks

Starmer firmly stated the UK "won't pursue a visa deal with India," citing past stalemates but praising the FTA's exclusion of migration clauses. "No business leaders raised visas with me—it's a non-issue with our returns agreement," he told reporters, rebuffing calls for easier student or tech visas post-US H-1B curbs.

This stance, amid the UK's net migration drop to 728,000 in 2025, prioritises domestic politics over Indian demands for 100,000 annual visas.

Indian officials welcomed the clarity, focusing on economic gains, but diaspora voices on X expressed disappointment: "FTA wins on trade, but visas? Starmer's 'humanly possible' doesn't include us."

The UK, facing Labour's immigration pledges, sees India as a talent pool without policy shifts.

Bollywood boost and cultural ties

On a lighter note, Starmer announced "Bollywood is back in Britain," partnering with Yash Raj Films for three UK-shot movies from 2026, including co-productions on shared histories.

At a YRF screening with CEO Akshaye Widhani and actor Rani Mukerji, he quipped: "From Manchester to Mumbai, our stories connect us."

This cultural push, tied to the FTA's creative sector liberalisation, aims to revive post-Brexit film collaborations, potentially injecting £500 million into UK economies.

The announcement, shared via X, sparked memes of Starmer in a salwar kameez, with fans posting: "Keir meets Katrina—FTA's real star power!"

It complements education ties, with UK universities eyeing Indian students sans visa hikes.

Bilateral talks agenda with Modi

On 9 October, Starmer and Modi will review the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the 2035 Roadmap, covering defence (joint exercises), critical tech (AI, semiconductors) and climate (net-zero pacts). Key items include a £2 billion green hydrogen deal and telecom spectrum sharing.

Global issues like Gaza and Ukraine may feature, though Starmer sidestepped Modi's Putin birthday wishes. 

On X, analysts noted: "Starmer-Modi: FTA fast-track amid Trump tariffs—Indo-Pacific pivot."

Reactions and economic projections

Business lobbies applauded the mission, with CII's Chandrajit Banerjee forecasting £15 billion in bilateral investments by 2027. 

FICCI urged quicker services liberalisation for IT and pharma.

Opposition in the UK, including SNP's Stephen Flynn, criticised the "no-visa" stance as "short-sighted."

In India, BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad called it a "diplomatic win," while Congress's Jairam Ramesh sought clarity on steel tariffs.

X buzzed with trade optimism, one user posting: "Starmer's Mumbai magic: FTA for jobs, Bollywood for hearts."

Broader geopolitical implications

The visit signals the UK's pivot to India amid EU resets and US uncertainties, with Starmer eyeing a "Living Bridge" for 1.8 million Indian diaspora.

It could unlock £100 billion in cumulative trade by 2040, per UK projections, bolstering supply chains in EVs and renewables.

As Starmer departs on 9 October, the momentum sets a template for post-Brexit global ties.