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

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

11 hours ago7 min read0 comments

In a strategic maneuver blending economic ambition with cultural diplomacy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that three major Bollywood productions will be filmed in the UK as part of a new trade deal with India, a move that political strategists are already framing as a masterstroke in soft power projection. This isn't just about film credits; it's a calculated play for the 'Global Britain' narrative, positioning the UK as a premier hub for international creative industries and directly challenging competitors in an increasingly fragmented global market.The deal, which also includes the establishment of two new British university campuses in India, represents a significant pivot in foreign policy, leveraging the UK's educational and cultural capital to forge stronger economic ties with one of the world's fastest-growing economies. This dual-pronged approach—attracting high-value film production while exporting elite education—is a classic campaign-style promise, designed to showcase tangible benefits and generate positive headlines.However, the political theatre was swiftly upstaged by a domestic crisis demanding immediate governance. In a separate, critically important announcement, Business Secretary Peter Kyle responded to the damning initial findings of the public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal by unveiling a comprehensive overhaul of the victim compensation schemes.This includes a new appeals process for those who accepted fixed-sum offers under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme and the provision of fully funded legal advice, a direct acknowledgment of the profound institutional failure that led to what is widely regarded as the most extensive miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. The contrast between the two announcements couldn't be sharper: one paints a vision of a forward-looking, globally engaged nation, while the other confronts a deep-seated legacy of systemic betrayal.For the new government, this is the ultimate test of its political brand—can it effectively manage the high-stakes diplomacy of international trade while simultaneously delivering long-overdue justice and administrative competence at home? The narrative of the day is one of a government attempting to walk and chew gum at the same time, selling a bright future abroad while mending broken trust within its own borders. The success of this balancing act will depend entirely on execution; the trade deal's benefits must materialize in local jobs and investment, and the Post Office compensation must reach victims without further bureaucratic delay. In the relentless media war of modern politics, today's announcements are more than just policy—they are opening salvos in a long-term campaign to define this administration's legacy.

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