Three Bollywood movies will be made in the UK, says Starmer<\/p>\n
Prime minister Keir Starmer, speaking in Mumbai, has said that tech, film-making and education are winners from the deal. Three \u201cBollywood blockbusters\u201d will be made in the UK, he says, and two more British universities will be setting up a campus in India.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis relationship matters more than ever,\u201d Starmer says. \u201cWe are remaking this partnership for our times\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.57 CEST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Swinney: Starmer\u2019s time in No 10 would be ended by a 2026 SNP Holyrood victory<\/p>\n First minister John Swinney has claimed that Keir Starmer\u2019s time in Downing Street would be ended by an SNP victory in next year\u2019s Holyrood elections.<\/p>\n Speaking to PA Media ahead his party\u2019s conference in Aberdeen, which starts tomorrow, Swinney said \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be negotiating with Keir Starmer [to hold an independence referendum], because if I get re-elected as first minister of Scotland in May of next year, I think Keir Starmer\u2019s days are over.\u201d<\/p>\n He added \u201cThe return of an SNP majority in Scotland, I think what that would demonstrate is the weakness of the prime minister and inevitable instability that would flow in what is already an unstable situation in the UK government.\u201d<\/p>\n The next Scottish parliament election is required to be held no later than Thursday 7 May 2026. As well as Scots potentially going to the polls, on that date there will also be elections for the Senedd in Wales and local elections in England \u2013 including in all London boroughs \u2013 which will be seen as a major test of electoral support for Starmer and his party.<\/p>\n John Swinney speaks at FMQs earlier today. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n On the face of it, there wasn\u2019t anything of great significance from Keir Starmer there. He reiterated his earlier sentiments about the potential of a Gaza ceasefire, saying it was a significant moment and that the world needed to push together to get the deal implemented.<\/p>\n He gave praise to the role of US president Donald Trump in bringing it forward, while side-stepping directly calling for Trump to get a Nobel Peace prize. He also side-stepped giving an opinion on any potential role for Tony Blair in the future of Gaza\u2019s governance.<\/p>\n Starmer defended his digital ID plans, but spent most of the time talking up the benefits of the trade deal with India which he pushed as an opportunity for British businesses to work with what he described as \u201can economic superpower in the making\u201d that would also deliver jobs back in the UK. He said those jobs would make a real difference to the communities where they were located.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n My colleague Jessica Elgot is in Mumbai, and she says that this is the largest trade delegation overseas with a UK prime minister since Theresa May visited China. She asks if Keir Starmer<\/a> intends to take a trade delegation to China. He takes the opportunity to say he wants trtade deals everywhere, and trumpets the India deal instead.<\/p>\n Aubrey Allegretti, late of this parish and now with the Times, continues on a China angle, asking about the unexpectedly dropped spy charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry<\/a>. Starmer gets somewhat into the weeds in his answer while also not really saying anything.<\/p>\n The final question is from a journalist at the Times of India, and is a bit of a softball that allows Starmer again to wax lyrical about the value of the trade partnership between India and the UK. The press conference is finished.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A reporter from GB News has compared Keir Starmer\u2019s apparent popularity in India during this trip \u2013 there are, she says, pictures of him everywhere \u2013 with his perceived unpopularity at home, citing digital ID as one of his unpopular moves.<\/p>\n Starmer defends digital ID by again claiming it will prevent illegal working, and cites the ease of access of services in a country like Estonia as a potential benefit for the public.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Keir Starmer is asked whether Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace prize. Starmer says the prospect of a Gaza deal is a significant step, and the US president played a significant role.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Keir Starmer is asked about the potential for Tony Blair having a role in any Gaza peace plan, and whether \u201chis instincts\u201d should be trusted in the region. Stramer deflects and says he\u2019d rather discuss getting the ceasefire in place and the deal implemented than \u201cpersonnel\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Prime minister Keir Starmer has been asked about his discussions with Narendra Modi on the Ukraine war. The prime minister mentions a couple of times that they discussed Russia\u2019s \u201cshadow fleet\u201d and that both India and the UK wanted to see an end to the war. There is some diplomacy from the PM here, as India has continued to work with Russia since Ukraine\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Starmer: we will work with partners to get Gaza deal implemented ‘in full and without delay’<\/p>\n Prime minister Keir Starmer reiterated his earlier statement welcoming the potential of a deal in Gaza, and said it must be implemented \u201cin full and without delay.\u201d<\/p>\n Starmer says \u201cI will take the opportunity to put on record my thanks to Donald Trump, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n He says it will be a relief to the world, and that the UK stands ready to work with partners. \u201cit is a really important step that has been reached here,\u201d he says, \u201cand I strongly welcome it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Three Bollywood movies will be made in the UK, says Starmer<\/p>\n Prime minister Keir Starmer, speaking in Mumbai, has said that tech, film-making and education are winners from the deal. Three \u201cBollywood blockbusters\u201d will be made in the UK, he says, and two more British universities will be setting up a campus in India.<\/p>\n \u201cThis relationship matters more than ever,\u201d Starmer says. \u201cWe are remaking this partnership for our times\u201d he said.<\/p>\n