UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has slammed British PM Keir Starmer for the Chagos deal, describing it as an “immoral surrender” and a security compromise.
During a Prime Minister’s Questions session, Sir Keir faced criticism from Ms Badenoch for his Chagos Island agreement with Mauritius.
The Prime Minister came under scrutiny from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Ms Badenoch regarding the deal, with critics claiming it puts security and defence at risk while imposing a high financial cost.
What did Kemi Badenoch say about the Chagos deal at PMQs?
During PMQs Ms Badenoch stated, “When Labour negotiates, our country loses”, arguing that the funds allocated for the deal are “meant for our children and their children.“
She accused Keir Starmer of “an immoral surrender so north London lawyers can boast at their dinner parties”.
Ms Badenoch hit out at Labour’s negotiation tactics, stating, “When Labour negotiates, we all lose,” and inquired why Energy Secretary Ed Miliband withdrew government lawyers from defending the Rosebank oil and gas fields.
How did Nigel Farage criticise the Chagos deal by Sir Keir Starmer?
Reform UK leader Mr Farage raised concerns over the government’s priorities, highlighting that 25,000 Clacton residents face the loss of winter fuel payments, while the government prepares to pay Mauritius up to £18 billion for the lease of a significant military base on the Chagos Islands.
Mr Farage said there is “no legal basis on which we have to give away the control of the Chagos Islands.” He added, “An advisory judgment from the ICC has no force of legal power whatsoever… America disregards it so much they’re not even members of it.”
What was Sir Keir Starmer’s response to the critics of the Chagos Islands deal?
While responding to the deal’s critics, Sir Keir stated,
“This is a military base that is vital to our national security and international security. Many years ago, the legal certainty of that base was thrown into doubt.”
He added,
“Without legal certainty, the base cannot operate in practical terms as it should, that is bad for our national security, and it is a gift to our adversaries.”
Mr Starmer argued that those doubting the deal’s importance do not have proper briefings, stating that the negotiations were initiated under the past Conservative government.
What did the Keir Starmer promise regarding the Chagos Islands deal?
In response to the ongoing discussions about the deal, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to reveal the details of the Chagos Islands deal once it is finalised. He also mentioned that the Tory party had overseen 11 of the 13 rounds of discussions with Mauritius.
Referring to the details he stated, “That is why this Government has completed that process and we were right to do so. I will set out the details when they are finalised and it will of course be presented to Parliament.”
What did Dame Priti Patel say about the Chagos Islands deal?
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel called the Chagos Islands deal “disastrous,” arguing it represents one of the worst foreign policy failures in the UK’s history.
She claimed that MPs were kept unaware of the specifics of the agreement.
In response, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty stated that negotiations with Mauritius had begun and made major progress while the Conservatives were in power.
What was the Mauritian PM’s Navin Ramgoolam stance on the Chagos Islands deal?
During a parliamentary session earlier this week, Mr Ramgoolam announced that a deal was set to be signed between Britain and Mauritius concerning the Chagos Islands.
He pointed out that the British government is still waiting for Trump’s administration’s green light.
Although the Biden administration had no objections to last year’s deal to hand over the islands, Mr Trump has been influenced by UK Brexiteers and right-wing offices, who have opposed the deal.