🔗 Share this article

The Prime Minister has declared that the Gaza ceasefire agreement "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the American leader for a Nobel peace prize.

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

The prime minister remarked that the first phase of the agreement would be a "welcome news globally" and noted that the UK had contributed significantly behind the scenes with the United States and negotiators.

Speaking on the last 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 accompanied by the immediate lifting of all limitations on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Answered

But, when asked if the Nobel committee should now grant Trump the coveted award, the Prime Minister suggested that more time was required to determine if a durable peace could be achieved.

"The priority now is to move forward and implement this ... my attention now is transitioning this from the phase it's at now ... and make a success of this, because that matters to me above all," he told reporters at a media briefing in Mumbai.

Trade and Investment 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 cultural leaders. The trip signifies the passing of the countries' trade pact.

• The UK government has announced a slew of investments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the production of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On the final day, Starmer signed a defence deal worth £350m for British-made missiles, manufactured in the UK region, to be deployed by the Indian army.

"Our history together is deep, the personal ties between our people are exceptionally strong," he said as he left the city. "Building on our historic trade deal, we are reinventing this partnership for our era."

Digital ID Initiative Examined

The Prime Minister has spent time in Mumbai studying the Indian digital ID system, including consulting principal architects who developed the comprehensive platform utilized by more than 1 billion people for benefits, payments, and verification.

The prime minister hinted that the United Kingdom was considering broadening the application of digital ID beyond making it mandatory to prove rights to work. He proposed that the UK would eventually look at linking it to banking and payments systems – on a voluntary basis – as well as for official procedures such as mortgage and school applications.

"It's been taken up on a voluntary basis [in India] in massive scale, partly because it ensures that you can access your own money, make payments so much more easily than is available with others," he explained.

"The speed with which it enables citizens here to access services, especially banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a financial technology conversation that we had today. So we're looking at those examples of how digital identification assists individuals with processes that often take excessive time and are too cumbersome and makes them easier for them."

Popular Backing for Changes

The Prime Minister admitted that the government had to make the case for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since he announced them.

"I think now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I believe that the greater number of individuals see the positive outcomes that come with this ... as has happened in other countries, people say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and consequently I want to proceed with it," he affirmed.

Human Rights and Global Affairs Discussed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had raised a range of challenging issues with the Indian leader regarding civil liberties and relations with the Russian Federation, though he appeared to have made little headway. He acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi talked about how the country was persisting to purchase Russian oil, which is subject to extensive international restrictions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this conflict and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he commented. "This included a broad spectrum of discussion, but we did set out the steps that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

The Prime Minister additionally said he had raised the situation of the British Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been detained in an Indian prison for almost a decade without facing a complete legal process. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most egregious cases of injustice among Britons still held overseas.

However, 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 opportunity to do so. I should say 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 similar business-oriented trip to 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 dismissal of a Chinese spying case, reportedly occurring because the British authorities has been unwilling to provide new proof that the country is deemed a security risk.

Starmer said the United Kingdom was eager to explore additional commercial partnerships but emphasized that a commercial agreement with China was not on the agenda. "It is not a priority, for a trade deal as such, but our stance is to cooperate where we are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the ongoing approach of the administration in regarding China."