London: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is on a two-day visit to India, said offering more UK visas to Indian workers ‘isn't part of the plan’, Independent reported.
Keir Starmer’s statement comes as British business leaders increasingly demand the UK government to open up more UK visas for highly skilled workers from India.
It is reported that India pressed UK to provide more visa access to UK as both countries finalised trade deal earlier this year.
Before heading to India, PM Keir Starmer reportedly told journalists ‘The issue is not about visas. It's about … engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom’.
Amid growing pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives to reduce legal and illegal immigration, PM Keir Starmer decided to cut immigration to the UK.
However he is facing pressure to showcase some positive signs from his visit to India as the country is saddled with a slowing economy and the possibility of raising taxes in November’s Budget.
He is accompanied by more than 100 top UK business leaders including Gurinder Chadha, director of Bend it Like Beckham, alongside bosses from British Airways.
It is reported that British Airways will open third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow next year and IndiGo will operate direct flight between Manchester airport and Delhi.
Sir Keir earlier termed the trade deal worth £4.8bn a year to Britain as ‘the best secured by any country’ and called it a ‘a launchpad for growth’.
‘With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled,’ he reportedly said.