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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 peace prize.

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

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should at this time award Trump the coveted award, Starmer suggested that more time was needed to determine if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on and execute this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," he said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this alliance for our times."

Digital Identification System Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification helps individuals with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer said he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a effort to improve relations between the United Kingdom and China.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, challenge where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."