New Delhi, July 31, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with newly appointed United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham over the phone and congratulated him on assuming office. The two leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation in areas including technology, innovation, defence, security, clean energy, education and people-to-people ties. They also reaffirmed their commitment to taking the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new heights.

During the conversation, Modi and Burnham discussed ways to maximise the trade and investment opportunities emerging from the recently implemented India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Both sides stressed the effective implementation of the agreement to promote economic cooperation and contribute to the prosperity of people in both countries.

Sharing details of the conversation on ‘X’, PM Modi said he congratulated Andy Burnham on becoming the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and wished him a successful tenure. He said both countries had agreed to work together across technology, innovation, defence, security, clean energy, education and people-to-people connections while further strengthening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Burnham, who became Labour Party leader after Keir Starmer announced his resignation from the post, received the support of 379 Labour MPs and emerged as the only candidate to secure the required backing. In his first address as Prime Minister, Burnham pledged to restore political stability and bring wider reforms to governance. The latest India-UK dialogue signals a renewed focus on deepening strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.