🔗 Share this article

Keir Starmer has stated that the truce deal in Gaza "could not have happened without President Trump's leadership," but avoided endorsing the American leader 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 behind the scenes with the US and negotiators.

Addressing the media on the final day of his trade visit to India, Starmer stressed that the deal "needs to be put into action in full, without delay, and paired with the immediate lifting of all restrictions on critical humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Peace Prize Inquiry Addressed

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

"What matters now is to move forward and execute this ... my attention 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 Mumbai.

Business Deals Revealed During India Visit

The Prime Minister has hailed a series of agreements finalized during his tour to India – his maiden visit there – joined by over a hundred executives and cultural leaders. The trip marks the passing of the countries' free trade agreement.

• No 10 has announced a range of financial commitments, from fintech to higher education facilities, as well as the making of multiple Indian movies in the UK.
• On Thursday, Starmer finalized a defence deal worth £350 million for British-made 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 exceptionally strong," Starmer remarked as he departed Mumbai. "Building on our landmark agreement, we are reinventing this alliance for our times."

Digital ID Initiative Studied

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

The prime minister suggested that the United Kingdom was interested in expanding the application of digital identification beyond making it mandatory to verify eligibility to work. He proposed that the UK would in time look at linking it to banking and transaction networks – on a voluntary basis – as well as for administrative tasks such as home loan and school applications.

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

"The efficiency with which it allows citizens here to utilize facilities, particularly banking options, is something that was recognized in our discussions recently, and in fact a Fintech discussion that we had as well. So we're examining those examples of how digital ID helps individuals with processes that sometimes take too long and are overly complex and makes them easier for them."

Public Support for Changes

Starmer acknowledged that the administration had to build public support for the reforms to the British public, which have declined sharply in popularity since Starmer announced them.

"In my view now we need to go out and advocate for the significant advantages ... And I think that the greater number of individuals see the benefits that come with this ... as has occurred in other countries, citizens say: 'That will simplify my daily routine,' and therefore I want to proceed with it," he stated.

Rights Issues and International Relations Addressed

The Prime Minister confirmed he had brought up a number of difficult topics with the Indian premier 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 India was persisting to buy oil from Russia, which is facing widespread western sanctions.

"For both Prime Minister Modi and me the priority on resolving this situation and the various steps will be implemented to that purpose," he said. "And that was a wide range of dialogue, but we did set out the actions that we are undertaking in relation to energy."

Starmer additionally mentioned he had raised the case of the UK-based activist Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, who has been held in an Indian prison for nearly eight years without undergoing a complete legal process. It is often cited as one of the worst examples of injustice among UK nationals currently detained overseas.

But, he did not indicate much advancement had been made. "Yes, 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 foreign secretary is meeting the families in the near future, as well as discussing it now."

Upcoming Initiatives

The prime minister is widely expected to take a similar trade-focused trip to China in the next 12 months as part of a mission to ease relations between the UK and China.

This bilateral connection is receiving attention because of the dismissal of a Chinese spying case, said to have happened because the UK has been unwilling to provide new proof that China is deemed a threat.

The Prime Minister clarified the United Kingdom was eager to explore other trading relationships but stated that a commercial agreement with China was not currently planned. "That's not on our list, for a bilateral pact as such, but our stance is to work together where we are able, confront where we need to, and this has been the consistent policy of the government in relation to China."