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The Prime Minister has asserted 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 "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had contributed significantly in private discussions with the US and mediators.

Speaking on the final day of his trade visit to India, the British leader stressed that the agreement "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

However, when asked if the Nobel committee should now award Donald Trump the prestigious award, the Prime Minister implied that more time was needed to know 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 make a success of this, because that matters to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a press conference in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to university campuses, as well as the making of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

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

Digital ID System Examined

Starmer has dedicated time in India analyzing the national digital identification program, including consulting key figures who developed the widespread system utilized by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

The prime minister hinted that the UK was considering expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to financial and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a optional basis [in India] in huge numbers, partly because it means that you can retrieve your own money, make payments so much more easily than is possible with others," he noted.

"The efficiency with which it enables citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and in fact a financial technology discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those examples of how digital ID assists people with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to build public support for the initiatives to the British public, which have plummeted in popularity since he announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and make that case 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 consequently I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian leader regarding human rights and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made minimal progress. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was continuing to purchase Russian oil, which is facing extensive international restrictions.

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

Starmer additionally said he had brought up the situation of the UK-based activist the individual, from Scotland, who has been held in an Indian prison for almost a decade without undergoing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

But, Starmer did not indicate much progress had been achieved. "Indeed, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he stated. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I should say that the top diplomat is scheduled to meet the relatives in the near future, as well as raising it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is largely anticipated to take a comparable business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve diplomatic ties between the UK 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 British authorities has been reluctant to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the UK was eager to pursue other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, challenge where we must, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in relation to China."