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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer commented that the initial stage of the deal would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the United States and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the agreement "must now be implemented in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Addressed

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

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is moving this from the stage it's at now ... and ensure the success of this, because that is important to me above all," he told reporters at a press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

The Prime Minister has celebrated a series of agreements sealed during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The trip marks the implementation of the countries' trade pact.

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

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," he remarked as he left Mumbai. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

The Prime Minister has dedicated time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for social services, transactions, and identification.

He suggested that the UK was interested in expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to prove rights to work. He indicated that the UK would in time look at connecting it to banking 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 means that you can retrieve your own funds, make payments so much more conveniently than is available with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, especially financial services, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID 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 administration had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since Starmer proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and make that case the significant advantages ... And I think that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

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

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the focus on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be implemented to that end," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister also mentioned he had raised the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, 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 most egregious cases of injustice among Britons currently detained overseas.

However, he did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the consular cases," he stated. "We consistently address them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Future Plans

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a comparable trade-focused visit to China in the coming year as part of a mission to ease diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and the Asian nation.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is considered a threat.

Starmer clarified the UK was keen to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to work together where we are able, confront where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."