🔗 Share this article

The Prime Minister has declared that the truce deal in Gaza "would not have occurred without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the US president for a Nobel peace prize.

Ceasefire Deal Welcomed as a "Welcome Development to the Globe"

The prime minister remarked that the initial stage 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 United States and mediators.

Addressing the media on the last day of his trade visit to the Indian subcontinent, Starmer emphasized that the deal "must now be implemented in full, without postponement, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Nobel Prize Question Answered

But, when questioned if the Nobel prize committee should now grant Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was needed to know if a durable peace could be attained.

"What matters now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and ensure the 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 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 trip marks the passing of the two nations' free trade agreement.

• The UK government has unveiled a slew of investments, from financial technology to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the United Kingdom.
• On Thursday, Starmer signed a defence deal 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 citizens are truly special," Starmer remarked as he departed the city. "Expanding upon our landmark agreement, we are remaking this partnership for our times."

Digital ID System Studied

The Prime Minister has spent time in India studying the Indian digital ID system, including meeting key figures who developed the widespread system used by over a billion individuals for benefits, payments, and identification.

He suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He indicated 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 school applications.

"It has been adopted on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, not least because it means that you can access your own money, make payments so much more conveniently than is possible with others," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to access services, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions yesterday, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're looking at those instances of how digital ID helps individuals with processes that sometimes take excessive time and are overly complex and simplifies them for them."

Popular Backing for Reforms

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the UK citizens, which have plummeted in public approval since he announced them.

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

Rights Issues and International Relations Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier regarding civil liberties and relations with Russia, though he seemed to have made little headway. Starmer confirmed that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how India was persisting to buy Russian oil, which is subject to widespread western sanctions.

"For prime minister Modi and myself the focus on ending this situation and the multiple measures will be taken to that purpose," he commented. "And that was a broad spectrum of dialogue, but we outlined the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister also said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist the individual, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian jail for nearly eight years without undergoing a full trial. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among UK nationals currently detained abroad.

But, Starmer did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Indeed, we did raise the consular cases," he said. "We always raise them when we have the chance to do so. I must add that the top diplomat is meeting the families in coming weeks, as well as raising 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 mission to improve 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 UK has been unwilling to provide fresh evidence that the country is considered a threat.

Starmer clarified the United Kingdom was keen to explore additional commercial partnerships but stated that a trade deal with the nation was not currently planned. "It is not a priority, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and that's been the consistent policy of the government in regarding China."