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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed 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 UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when questioned if the Nobel committee should now grant Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that time was required to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus 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.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be used by the Indian military.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our citizens are truly special," Starmer said as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this alliance for our era."

Digital Identification Initiative Studied

Starmer has spent time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who developed the comprehensive platform used by more than 1 billion people for benefits, transactions, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was interested in broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It has been adopted on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it ensures that you can retrieve your own funds, conduct transactions so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to access services, particularly banking options, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had today. So we're examining those examples of how digital identification assists people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Reforms

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case the huge benefits ... 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 get on with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the various steps will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had raised the case 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 often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among Britons still held abroad.

But, he did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we did raise the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the opportunity to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Future Plans

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

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the dismissal of a espionage investigation, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is deemed a security risk.

The Prime Minister said the UK was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "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 this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."