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The Prime Minister has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without the leadership of Donald Trump," but avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the agreement would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had played its own role in private discussions with the United States and negotiators.

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 postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Trump the prestigious prize, Starmer suggested that more time was required to determine if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my attention now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that is important to me more than anything else," he told reporters at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Business Deals Announced During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements sealed during his tour to India – his first time there – accompanied by over a hundred executives and arts figures. The trip marks the passing of the two nations' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister signed a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, manufactured in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian military.

"The shared history is profound, the human connections between our people are truly special," he remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID System Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who designed the comprehensive platform utilized by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

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

"It has been adopted 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 available with others," he noted.

"The speed with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks recently, and actually a Fintech conversation that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that often take too long and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

Starmer admitted that the administration had to make the case for the initiatives to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since he proposed them.

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

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister said he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding human rights and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made minimal progress. He acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how the country was continuing to buy Russian oil, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that end," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are taking in regarding energy."

Starmer also said he had raised the case 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 full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of unfair treatment among Britons currently detained abroad.

But, he did not indicate much advancement had been achieved. "Indeed, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity 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

Starmer is largely anticipated to take a similar business-oriented trip to the People's Republic of China in the coming year as part of a mission to ease relations between the UK and the Asian nation.

That relationship 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 the country is considered a threat.

The Prime Minister said the UK was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "That's not on our list, for a trade deal as such, but our position is to work together where we can, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the government in regarding China."