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Keir Starmer has stated that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

The prime minister commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Answered

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

"What matters now is to move forward and implement 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 above all," he told reporters at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During India Visit

Starmer has hailed a number of deals sealed during his tour to the country – his first time there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the countries' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," he said as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital Identification System Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and verification.

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, make payments so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks yesterday, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with procedures that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he proposed them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes 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 stated.

Rights Issues and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that end," he said. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had raised the situation of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we did raise the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to ease relations between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a security risk.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the administration in relation to China."