Voters 'upset' with asylum system for 'legitimate reasons', says cabinet minister

PM extended 'warm invitation' to visit India

At the end of his speech, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invites Sir Keir Starmer for a reciprocal visit to India.

He says: "I would also like to take this opportunity to extend an equally warm invitation to you to visit India. 

"I am eagerly looking forward to hosting you in India very, very soon."

Modi sends condolences to UK victims of India plane crash

Continuing his speech, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns to the devastating plane crash that happened in Ahmedabad last month.

Air India Flight 171 - from Ahmedabad Airport to London Gatwick - crashed on 12 June around 32 seconds after take off.

All but one of 230 passengers and all 12 crew members were killed. This included 52 British nationals.

Modi acknowledges that "our sisters and brothers of the UK were among those who lost their lives".

He adds: "I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims."

The Indian premier says the British-Indian community forms a "living bridge" between the two countries - adding they didn't "just bring curry" from India, and saying they also brought "creativity, commitment and character".

Modi also uses cricket as a metaphor for the UK-India relationship, saying there may be a "swing and a miss" at times, but they are committed to playing with a "straight bat" and building a "high-scoring, solid partnership".

Starmer hails 'historic day' as UK-India trade deal signed

Sir Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi are now confirming details of the UK-India trade deal at Chequers.

Starmer says the agreement will bring "huge benefits" to both countries, hailing Thursday as a "historic day".

The feed is somewhat disrupted from Chequers, and it is hard to distinguish what is being said.

However, the pair of leaders joke they understand each other well.

Starmer says: "We both know this is the biggest, most economically significant trade deal that the UK has made since leaving the EU. 

"And I think I can say that it's one of the most comprehensive deals that India has ever done."

While negotiations have taken place over many years, Starmer highlights that it was his government that got the deal signed.

Starmer says the two countries are today launching the "India-UK vision 2035 strategy".

This includes pledges to "work more closely on areas such as defence, migration, climate, education and health".

Modi says the 2035 vision "is a roadmap that will form the basis of a strong, trustworthy and ambitious partnership in the fields of technology, defence, climate, education and people to people connection".

UK and India sign significant trade deal

The signing of the UK's trade deal with India is currently taking place in Chequers.

Sir Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi will likely be out shortly.

The pair have posed for pictures earlier ahead of the full ceremony.

As they met, Starmer said there had been a "step change" in the UK-India relationship.

"So I'm really pleased and privileged to welcome you here today on what I consider to be a historic day for both of our countries, and the delivery of the commitment that we made to each other," he said.

Modi, speaking via a translator, said the UK and India were "natural partners" and said the nations were "writing a new chapter" in a their history.

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and his Indian opposite number Piyush Goyal formally signed the trade agreement in the great hall of Chequers.

Government investigating use of asylum seeker payment cards after gambling allegations

The government has launched an investigation following allegations asylum seekers were using taxpayer funded payment cards to gamble.

Initially reported by PoliticsHome, the claim is that Aspen cards - usually used to buy essentials like food and medicine, had been used at casinos.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Home Office have begun an investigation into the use of Aspen cards.

"The Home Office has a legal obligation to support asylum seekers, including any dependents, who would otherwise be destitute."

No 'right' for violent protests at migrant hotels - shadow minister

Matt Vickers, the newly appointed deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, is speaking to Sky News this morning.

He is asked about the protests and unrest seen at migrant hotels in recent days.

Vickers says there are two things at play - one is people travelling "to come and stir up a bit of violence", and then a community with "genuine concern" that are "devastated" by what is going on.

He says the latter have a "right to protests and that's a good thing".

But he says the "reality" is that when things descend into violence, it's the communities that "suffer the consequences" - like businesses closing early or people not being able to leave their homes.

On the first group, Vickers says "they do not have the right to go out there and have a violent protest and create unrest".

He says the police have to "really clamp down" on the unrest.

Vickers then says more hotels are opening than before - something the government minister Jonathan Reynolds earlier denied.

Suggestion Indian workers will pay lower taxes in UK is 'wrong' or 'mendacious'

One controversial area of the government's trade agreement with India has been around the taxes that Indian workers will pay in the UK.

As part of the agreement, workers here for less than three years will not pay UK national insurance - instead paying into the system in India.

The same is true for British workers - they would pay into the UK system if they are in India for up to three years.

Transport Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says there's "no incentive" for British companies to hire Indian workers, and there will be "no undercutting".

"So for India, actually their employee contributions are higher than ours, they're 12%, their employer's are 12.5%, so slightly less," he says.

"So you are not in a position where if you have to hire an Indian worker, you would pay a lower level of tax. That is categorically wrong. 

"Anyone saying that it's got that wrong or they don't understand it or are being mendacious in putting that forward. You pay into your own country's systems."

UK national insurance contributions sit at 8% for employees and 15% for employers.

Reynolds adds that moving an Indian worker to the UK would also require visa charges and the NHS surcharge - all of which would disincentivise hiring an Indian worker over a British one purely for cost reasons.

'Legitimate reasons' to be upset with asylum system, admits minister

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is speaking to Sky News this morning.

He is asked about the unrest over migrant hotels, as seen in Epping, Essex, recently.

Asked if he is worried that protests may spread - as they did last summer - Reynolds say the government and police prepare for "all situations", but added that he didn't want to speculate on what may or may not happen.

The minister goes on: "I think what we've got to talk about is, you know, why are people unhappy with, say, the asylum system?

"Are they reasonable? Are they upset for legitimate reasons? Yes.

"We share those as a government. That is why we are sorting it out."

He claims the number of migrant hotels has fallen from around 400 to roughly 200 when compared to the last government.

However, he says there is more to do on the issue with crossings still at a record high for this point in the year.

Asked about the police escorting counterprotesters to the site of demonstrations - and driving them away - Reynolds say he isn't across the details of the matter, and he won't comment on operational matters.

He says the police "in the main" do an "excellent job".

-SKY NEWS