Keir Starmer says ‘Bollywood blockbusters’ will be made in the UK under new trade deal with India – UK politics live

October 9, 2025

Keir Starmer says ‘Bollywood blockbusters’ will be made in the UK under new trade deal with India – UK politics live

Prime minister Keir Starmer , speaking in Mumbai, has said that tech, film-making and education are winners from the deal. Three “Bollywood blockbusters” will be made in the UK, he says, and two more British universities will be setting up a campus in India.

“This relationship matters more than ever,” Starmer says. “We are remaking this partnership for our times” he said.

First minister John Swinney has claimed that Keir Starmer’s time in Downing Street would be ended by an SNP victory in next year’s Holyrood elections.

Speaking to PA Media ahead his party’s conference in Aberdeen, which starts tomorrow, Swinney said “I don’t think I’ll 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’s days are over.”

He added “The 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.”

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 – including in all London boroughs – which will be seen as a major test of electoral support for Starmer and his party.

On the face of it, there wasn’t 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.

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’s governance.