Keir Starmer says Gaza peace deal 'would not have happened' without Donald Trump

The Gaza peace breakthrough "would not have happened" without the leadership demonstrated by President Trump, a relieved Sir Keir Starmer has declared. The Prime Minister stopped short of saying the US President deserved the Nobel Peace Prize but his words will be warmly welcomed in the White House.

Speaking in Mumbai as his trade mission to India drew to its final stages, Sir Keir said he knew from "behind the scenes" how Mr Trump had been instrumental in pushing forward the deal to end the fighting and secure the release of hostages.

He said: "It is a very significant step forward and it would not have happened without President Trump's leadership on this. I want to be really clear about that - and I say from the informed position of the UK having played a part behind the scenes in this with the US and with the mediators.

"What matters now is to press on and implement this."

The Prime Minister was less enthusiastic when asked about the possibility of Sir Tony Blair playing a leading role in making peace a reality in Gaza.

Speaking to journalists in Mumbai, he said: "I'm less interested, to be perfectly frank, in discussions about personnel than I am about getting it implemented. The UK has played an important part behind the scenes in relation to these negotiations, working with the US and mediators... For me, what matters is the substance of what happens next and that is what we are totally focused on."

He said civilians in Gaza had endured "unimaginable horrors".