Keir Starmer 'relaunches' trade talks with India after meeting Modi at G20 in Rio… but will he bow to demands for more immigration visas?

Keir Starmer has announced a 'relaunch' for trade talks with India after meeting Narendra Modi at the G20 summit .

The PM hailed a new push to agree 'ambitious' terms with the fast-growing economic power following the discussions in Rio.

Sir Keir insisted a deal would support jobs in the UK, with the trading relationship with India worth an estimated £42billion a year.

However, the move will spark questions about whether the premier is ready to make concessions on visas for Indian students and workers - which was the key sticking point previously.

An official readout of the talks in Rio said Sir Keir and Mr Modi agreed to work towards an 'ambitious UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to take the relationship to new heights in trade and investment, security and defence, technology, climate, health and education'.

Sir Keir said: 'Boosting economic growth is key to improving living standards for working people.

'A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in the UK – and represent a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country.'

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds described India as a 'vital trading partner for the UK'.

He said: 'Whether it's lowering Indian tariffs to help British firms export to this dynamic market or boosting investment which already supports over 600,000 jobs across both countries, striking a deal is important to deliver this Government's core mission of driving economic growth.'

In July, Mr Reynolds had said that the UK intended 'to forge better trading relationships with countries around the world'.

Trade discussions between New Delhi and London stalled under the last government.

Former PM Boris Johnson had previously said that he wanted a deal done by October 2022 to coincide with Diwali celebrations.

Rishi Sunak's administration then declined to set a target date for signing off on an agreement.

Earlier this year the UK and India sealed a separate scheme aimed at strengthening co-operation on artificial intelligence and technologies.