Keir Starmer meets brains behind 'massive success' of India's digital ID

Keir Starmer held talks with the creators of India's digital ID system as he attempted to defend the government's controversial plans.

The PM, who is visiting Mumbai for talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi, said the country had made a "massive success" of the scheme.

Back in 2009 the Indian government began registering its population of over a billion to its Aadhaar system, with people given a 12-digit personal ID number.

Mr Starmer met with Nandan Nilekani co-founder of one of India's tech giants, Infosys, who helped develop the ID system.

But there have been reports in previous years of vulnerable people losing out with glitches in the system resulting in some unable to access food rations.

It comes as the UK government plans to rollout a digital ID system by 2029, which will be used to prove a person's rights to live and work in Britain.

But support among the public has dipped since the PM announced the plans a fortnight ago.

Pressed on whether he was concerned over public support, Mr Starmer told reporters mandatory ID was needed to "address the fact that too many people can come to this country and work illegally".

He also said there was a case to be made over the benefits of voluntary ID, adding: "I think it's a really important discussion for us to have.

"So on the one hand, it's mandatory for work, but I actually think it would be a good passport.

"You know, I don't know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that, drives me to frustration.

"I do think that we could gain a significant advantage. We're going to a country, India, where they've already done ID and made a massive success of it.

"So one of the meetings I'll be having is about ID, in relation to that.”

Mr Starmer's comments came as he landed in Mumbai on Wednesday to a warm welcome from the Indian government.

Posters and billboards featuring Mr Starmer's face and the Indian PM were plastered across the roads in the west coast city of India, greeting the No10 convoy.

A photograph of the PM shaking hands with Mr Modi - from their meeting at Chequers in July - appeared on hundreds of the huge billboards.

At one Mr Starmer was joined by ex-England striker Michael Owen, who joked about Mr Starmer's club Arsenal, as the pair met at a football ground in Mumbai.

"I've scored a few against your club," Owen could be heard to joke with the PM as they met at Cooperage football ground, near Mumbai's Maidan Oval cricket ground.

The Prime Minister also met with children taking part in a Premier League-backed football programme.

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But Mr Starmer declined to say whether he will urge Mr Modi to stop buying Russian oil.

He told reporters: "Our position on Ukraine is very, very clear, and we've been strong supporters of Ukraine from the beginning of the conflict.

"We're one of the leading countries in the coalition of the willing, bringing together allies in order to ensure that if there is a ceasefire, it's lasting.

"And we've taken really effective sanctions in relation to, particularly, the shadow fleet."

Pressed again, he said: "Our position on energy into Russia is to bear down on the shadow fleet more than anything, which is where we've directed our focus."