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

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

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

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without postponement, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time award Donald Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister suggested that time was needed to know if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

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

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in Mumbai studying the national digital identification program, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the Britain would in time 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's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own funds, conduct transactions so much more easily than is available with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and simplifies them for them."

Public Support for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply 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 greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in different nations, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. He confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in relation to energy."

Starmer also said he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons still held abroad.

However, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to improve relations between the United Kingdom and China.

This bilateral connection is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is considered a security risk.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."