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Keir Starmer has asserted that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided supporting the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Ceasefire Deal Hailed as a "Relief to the Globe"

Starmer remarked 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 US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to India, Starmer emphasized that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister implied that more time was required to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on and execute this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he stated at a press conference in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment Announced During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his visit to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip signifies the implementation of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be used by the Indian army.

"The shared history is deep, the human connections between our citizens are exceptionally strong," he said as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our historic trade deal, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital Identification Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai analyzing the national digital identification program, including meeting principal architects who developed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as home loan and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with procedures that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes 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 stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

Starmer said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and ties with the Russian Federation, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to 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 broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of unfair treatment among UK nationals still held overseas.

But, he did not suggest much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship is under the spotlight because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we must, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."