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Keir Starmer has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

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

Starmer remarked that the first phase of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, the British leader emphasized that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister implied that more time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," he said as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this partnership for our times."

Digital ID System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, payments, and verification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the scope of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a optional basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it ensures that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital identification helps people with procedures that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

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

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking 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 detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held abroad.

But, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been made. "Yes, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties 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 unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was keen to explore other trading relationships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."