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Keir Starmer has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the United Kingdom 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 the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Trump the coveted prize, Starmer suggested 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 ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his first time there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit signifies the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was interested in broadening the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and educational enrollments.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification helps people with procedures that sometimes take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

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

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to buy oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals still held overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we did raise 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 the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that the country is deemed a threat.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was keen to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."