🔗 Share this article

The Prime Minister has asserted that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," yet stopped short of supporting the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

Truce Agreement Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the World"

Starmer remarked that the initial stage of the deal would be a "relief to the world" and noted that the United Kingdom had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the US and mediators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his business trip to the Indian subcontinent, the British leader emphasized that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and accompanied by the prompt removal of all limitations on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Question Addressed

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now award Donald Trump the prestigious award, Starmer suggested that more time was required to determine if a longer lasting peace could be achieved.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this ... my focus now is transitioning 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 press conference in Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a number of deals sealed during his visit to India – his first time there – accompanied by 126 business leaders and arts figures. The visit marks the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from financial technology to university campuses, as well as the production of three Bollywood films in the UK.
• On Thursday, the Prime Minister finalized a military agreement worth £350m for UK missiles, produced in the UK region, to be used by the Indian army.

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

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting key figures who designed the comprehensive platform used by over a billion individuals for social services, payments, and identification.

The prime minister suggested that the UK was considering broadening the scope of digital identification beyond making it compulsory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated that the UK would eventually look at connecting it to financial and payments systems – on a optional basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and educational enrollments.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in huge numbers, not least because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is possible with alternative methods," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to access services, especially financial services, is something that was acknowledged in our talks yesterday, and actually a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're examining those instances of how digital ID helps people with processes that often take excessive time and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government had to make the case for the initiatives to the UK citizens, which have declined sharply in public approval since Starmer proposed them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the more people see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to get on with it," he stated.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

Starmer confirmed he had brought up a range of challenging issues with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and ties with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. Starmer acknowledged that he and Modi talked about how India was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on resolving this conflict and the various steps will be taken to that end," he commented. "And that was 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 brought up the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

However, Starmer did not suggest much advancement had been achieved. "Yes, we brought up the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the foreign secretary is scheduled to meet the families in coming weeks, as well as discussing it today."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a comparable trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a effort to improve relations 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 reluctant to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a security risk.

Starmer said the UK was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with the nation was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our position is to cooperate where we are able, challenge where we must, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."