As Andy Burnham Takes Office Today, What’s Next For India-UK Ties?

Andy Burnham will take office as Britain’s new prime minister on Monday, inheriting an India-UK relationship that experts believe is likely to retain its current strategic direction while expanding into new areas of regional, economic and defence cooperation.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester was elected unopposed as Labour Party leader on Friday after securing the backing of 379 of the party’s 403 lawmakers in the House of Commons. He will succeed Keir Starmer and become the UK’s seventh prime minister since 2016.

Burnham’s elevation comes days after the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, entered into force.

While Burnham has promised a different approach to domestic politics, strategic experts expect continuity

in relations with India, backed by his own record of engagement with the country during his tenure in Greater Manchester.

Why India-UK Ties Are Likely To Stay On Course

Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told PTI that the relationship was likely to see “continuity” because it “has not been better in over a decade”.

The two countries witnessed back-to-back prime ministerial visits last year, followed by the entry into force of CETA last week.

“New PM Andy Burnham has an opportunity to deepen these improved India-UK ties, deliver on the prosperity agenda and ensure a landmark dividend on bilateral defence and strategic cooperation with India, which looks to diversify its defence relationships while modernising its armed forces capability and boosting defence manufacturing in order to export to the world,” Roy-Chaudhury said.

Burnham has also indicated that he will retain parts of Starmer’s policy legacy. In his first speech as Labour leader, he said he would “build on the foundation laid” by his predecessor.

According to AP, Burnham is expected to say in his first speech as prime minister that he is “acutely aware” of the number of leadership changes Britain has witnessed over the past decade and will pledge to restore stability.

Manchester Record Could Shape His India Policy

Burnham’s tenure as mayor of Greater Manchester provides some indication of how he may approach India.

During his time in office, he backed stronger links with India through businesses, universities, innovation networks and regional partnerships.

“Over this past year, we have valued close engagement with the Greater Manchester authorities, particularly Mr Andy Burnham, whose energy and warm support has done much to strengthen India-North-England ties,” Vishakha Yaduvanshi, the Consul General of India in Manchester, told PTI.

India opened its new consulate in Manchester in March last year. Yaduvanshi described it as a “landmark moment” that highlighted the potential of the north of England, including “its industries, academia and sporting ethos”, within the wider bilateral relationship.

Burnham visited India in 2019, travelling to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi. He later met then Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami in December 2025 and participated virtually in the India-North England Opportunity Summit in March 2026.

During the India visit, he identified digital technology, engineering, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and academia as areas of cooperation. He also highlighted opportunities in tourism, sport and cultural collaboration.

More Focus On Indian States And British Regions

Burnham’s support for greater devolution in the UK could also lead to deeper engagement with Indian state governments.

Rajesh Agrawal, chair of Labour Friends of India, said Burnham had consistently focused on building long-term economic relationships.

“Andy understands that growth comes from longer-term relationships. If you look at his own track record in Manchester, he’s worked to strengthen links with India through businesses, universities, innovation and improving connectivity with a direct flight between India and Manchester,” Agrawal told PTI.

Agrawal, who worked with Burnham during his earlier tenure as Labour’s deputy mayor of London, said his devolution agenda could align well with India’s federal system.

“He’s a big fan of devolution and empowering different regions, and India is of course a federal structure with many states. So, I also see him engaging more with regional governments,” he said.

This could result in more partnerships between Indian states and British cities or regions in technology, education, manufacturing, healthcare and infrastructure.

Turning The Trade Deal Into Concrete Gains

The immediate test for the Burnham government will be the implementation of CETA and whether it can translate the agreement into investment, exports and jobs.

Tech entrepreneur and Labour peer Uday Nagaraju said Burnham was inheriting an “exceptionally strong” bilateral relationship and was expected to follow the “same strategic direction” on India.

“It would also be combined with Andy Burnham’s own characteristic focus, based on his work in Manchester on regional growth, skills, infrastructure, and bringing government and business together,” Nagaraju said.

“I think the next stage [for India-UK ties] will be about converting the trade agreement into investment, exports, jobs, research partnerships, and opportunities for smaller companies in both countries,” he added.

Burnham has pledged to improve living standards and revive economic growth across Britain. That could increase the importance of India as a source of investment, technology partnerships and market access.

Joshi Herrmann, founder of the Manchester news site The Mill, told AP that Burnham’s plans would ultimately depend on economic growth.

“Fundamentally, it only will work if you can generate significant economic growth, because it’s the lack of growth that’s really holding the country back,” he said.

Defence Cooperation Could Be The Next Major Area

Strategic experts also see defence as a major area of potential expansion.

Roy-Chaudhury said the new government could deepen cooperation as India modernises its armed forces, diversifies defence partnerships and seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing.

The extent of progress could depend on Burnham’s Cabinet appointments, particularly the choices for foreign secretary, defence secretary and Treasury chief. According to AP, he is expected to make changes to Starmer’s senior team but had not finalised the appointments as of Friday.

Calls For A Dedicated India Mechanism

The 1928 Institute, a British Indian think tank, said Burnham would inherit a strong foundation but warned that his domestic agenda could pull his attention in several directions.

“From an India policy and diaspora perspective, Andy Burnham would inherit a strong foundation. However, his attention is likely to be pulled in several directions, particularly given the domestic focus of his agenda,” institute chair Dr Nikita Ved told PTI.

“It would therefore be prudent to establish an India Task Force and/or appoint an India Trade Envoy, to maintain the current momentum,” she said.

Stability Will Matter For Businesses

Lord Karan Bilimoria, Cobra Beer founder and co-chair of the India All Party Parliamentary Group, said he expected Burnham to continue to “prioritise India”.

He also called for political stability “at least for the next three years until the next general election, so that businesses in the UK and in India can invest in each other’s countries… which will create jobs on both sides”.

“We need to double our trade, going from nearly 50 billion pounds today to 100 billion pounds by 2030… I’m very confident of a very bright future for the UK and India from now onwards,” Bilimoria said.

Burnham is therefore unlikely to alter the broad direction of India-UK ties. The bigger challenge will be to convert the momentum built under Starmer into measurable progress on trade, defence, investment, regional partnerships, skills and research.