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Keir Starmer has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to India, the British leader stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Trump the coveted prize, Starmer implied that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more conveniently than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables residents here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital ID assists individuals with procedures that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since he announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I think that the more people see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer also mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, he did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we can, challenge where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the administration in regarding China."