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The Prime Minister has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Relief to the Globe"

The prime minister commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer implied that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me above all," he told reporters at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to India – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, 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 profound, the human connections between our citizens are truly special," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it ensures that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with alternative methods," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it allows residents here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital ID helps individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them 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 Starmer proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has happened in different nations, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on resolving this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of discussion, but we outlined the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had brought up the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

But, he did not suggest much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused visit to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

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 China is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister said the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, challenge where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."