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The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," yet avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly 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 delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Inquiry Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Donald Trump the coveted prize, Starmer suggested that more time was required to know if a longer lasting peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning this from the stage it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me above all," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a series of agreements finalized during his tour to the country – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer finalized a military agreement worth £350 million for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

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

Digital ID System Studied

Starmer has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting principal architects who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for social services, transactions, and verification.

He hinted that the United Kingdom was considering expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can access your own money, conduct transactions so much more easily than is possible with alternative methods," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and actually a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those instances of how digital identification helps people with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to make the case for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in popularity since Starmer announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to get on with it," he affirmed.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Modi discussed how the country was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on ending this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he commented. "This included a wide range of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons still held overseas.

However, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been made. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

Starmer is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused trip to China in the coming year as part of a mission to ease relations between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the collapse of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is considered a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to pursue additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a trade deal with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we can, challenge where we must, and that's been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."