Keir Starmer refuses to send birthday wishes to despot Vladimir Putin

Keir Starmer has shared he had not sent Russian despot Vladimir Putin birthday wishes - after India's "warm greetings".

Flying into Mumbai for talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi, Mr Starmer said the UK government would continue to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin. It came as Mr Modi, whose government has continued to buy Russian oil despite the invasion of Ukraine, wished his friend Putin a "good health and a long life".

In a post on X, the Indian leader said: "Spoke with my friend President Putin and conveyed warm birthday greetings and best wishes for his good health and long life. Deeply appreciate his personal commitment to deepening India–Russia ties over the years."

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As Putin marked his 73rd birthday yesterday, Mr Starmer said: "Just for the record, I haven't... sent birthday congratulations to Putin, nor am I going to. I don't suppose that comes as a surprise.

He added: "In relation to energy, and clamping down on Russian energy, our focus as the UK, and we've been leading on this, is on the Shadow Fleet, because we think that's the most effective way.

"We've been one of the lead countries in relation to the shadow fleet, working with other countries."

His comments came as he promised to fly the flag for British firms as he arrives in India for a two-day trip to boost ties with Mr Modi's government. The PM travelled with a group of 125 business chiefs, university vice chancellors and others in the "largest government trade delegation to India ever," Downing Street said.

They include major firms such as Rolls Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, London Stock Exchange and British Airways alongside the British Film Institute and the National Theatre. It comes after Mr Starmer signed a trade deal with the Indian PM Mr Modi in the summer, said to be worth £4.8 billion each year to the UK economy.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Starmer said: “We signed a major trade deal with India in July – the best secured by any country – but the story doesn’t stop there. It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s 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.

"That’s why I’ll be flying the flag for British business alongside 125 of our biggest household names in Mumbai this week - because growth in India for them means more choice, opportunity and jobs at home for the British people.”

The wooing of British firms comes after the PM praised business in his Labour conference speech after "difficult decisions" on tax in last year's Budget. Relations have been fractious since Chancellor Rachel Reeves imposed a hike in employers' National Insurance Contributions in order to plough cash into the NHS.

As the PM flew to India on a British Airways jet, the firm said it will introduce a third daily flight between Delhi and London Heathrow in 2026. There was also a boost for the North as a new route between the Indian capital and Manchester was confirmed yesterday operated by India's biggest airline, IndiGo.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle, investment minister Jason Stockwood, and Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, also joined Mr Starmer on the trip to India.

Mr Kyle said: “We’ve shown there is no limit on our ambition to grow trade with India – in less than a year we’ve gone from restarting talks on a deal, to bringing 125 brilliant business leaders to its commercial capital."

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