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

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

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the United Kingdom had played its own role behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer suggested that more time was required to know if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to press on and execute this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals sealed during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip signifies the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he left the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who developed the widespread system utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the Britain would eventually look at connecting it to financial 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 optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it ensures that you can access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

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

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer admitted that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he announced them.

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

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi discussed how the country was continuing to purchase 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 taken to that end," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained 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 abroad.

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar trade-focused visit to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and China.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been reluctant to provide fresh evidence that China is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."