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The Prime Minister has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had played its own role behind the scenes with the United States and mediators.

Speaking on the last day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to move forward and execute this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a number of deals finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a range of financial commitments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350 million for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our people are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he departed the city. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

Starmer has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can retrieve your own money, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he explained.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, especially banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification assists people with procedures that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, 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 think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister said he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi discussed how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that end," he said. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

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

However, he did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is widely expected to take a comparable business-oriented visit 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 China.

That relationship is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is considered a threat.

Starmer said the UK was keen to explore other trading relationships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we can, confront where we need to, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."