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The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without the leadership of Donald Trump," but stopped short of supporting the US president for a Nobel Prize.

Truce Agreement Hailed as a "Relief to the World"

Starmer commented that the first phase of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and highlighted that the UK had played its own role in private discussions with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the prompt removal of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

However, when questioned if the Nobel committee should at this time grant Trump the coveted prize, the Prime Minister implied that more time was needed to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"The priority now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is moving this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he stated at a media briefing in India's financial capital.

Trade and Investment Revealed During Trip to India

Starmer has celebrated a number of deals finalized during his visit to India – his maiden visit there – joined by 126 business leaders and cultural leaders. The visit marks the implementation of the two nations' trade pact.

• No 10 has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, the Prime Minister signed a defence deal worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in Northern Ireland, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is profound, the personal ties between our people are truly special," he remarked as he left the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

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

The prime minister hinted that the UK was considering broadening the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at connecting it to banking and transaction networks – on a optional 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 explained.

"The speed with which it enables residents here to access services, particularly financial services, is something that was recognized in our talks recently, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID assists people with procedures that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer admitted that the government had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the huge benefits ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that accompany this ... as has occurred in other countries, people say: 'That will make my life easier,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Addressed

Starmer confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he appeared to have made little headway. He confirmed that he and Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the priority on resolving this situation 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."

The Prime Minister additionally mentioned he had brought up the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without facing a full trial. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, he did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, we brought up the diplomatic matters," he said. "We consistently address them when we have the opportunity to do so. I should say that the foreign secretary is meeting the relatives in coming weeks, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar business-oriented trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort 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 British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is considered a security risk.

Starmer clarified the UK was keen to pursue additional commercial partnerships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we can, confront where we must, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."