Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of putting the Falkland Islands at risk with his “weak” approach to defence, during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.
Mrs Badenoch claimed that the UK's enemies saw Mr Burnham as a soft touch, saying: “They smell weakness.” She questioned the Prime Minister about plans to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a military base in Diego Garcia, stating it would cost British taxpayers £35 billion.
Argentina 'encouraged' by Chagos deal
Mrs Badenoch said that Argentina had seen the deal and felt encouraged to claim the Falkland Islands. She argued: “The truth is, he doesn't know where he is going to fund the money from. He is talking about anything except defence, council housing ... he won't fund the military.”
She claimed that while the Labour Government was failing to fund defence, it was willing to pay the cost of the Chagos deal. “That is British sovereign territory,” she said. “This is a weak decision, and it is no wonder Argentina is now threatening the Falklands.”
Burnham hits back over Diego Garcia
Mrs Badenoch also asked: “So why, just like Keir Starmer, is he planning on surrendering the Chagos Islands?” She later noted that defence funding was cut in the first year of the Labour Government, saying: “Last year, defence funding fell in real terms. That is on them. So why is he choosing to send £35 billion to Mauritius when they cut the money to train our troops?”
Mr Burnham responded: “She does have to do better than that. We are not going to surrender our base at Diego Garcia. We are in discussions with the US about that.” He added that the UK would “never” give up the right of Falkland Island residents to be British, saying: “We will be relentless in defending that.”
