Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing Cabinet revolt over the controversial Chagos Islands deal, with ministers reportedly joining the rising outrage at the potential £18 billion handover to Mauritius. The agreement, which involves transferring sovereignty of the British overseas territory, has sparked alarm within Labour ranks, with one senior government source telling the BBC: 'At a time when there is no money, how can we spend billions of pounds to give something away?'
The deal, which includes a 99-year lease on the strategically crucial Diego Garcia military base, has been criticised as 'mad' and 'impossible to understand' by some Labour figures. Fingers are being pointed at Sir Keir and his close friend Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, who is said to have been involved in the negotiations. Both are former human rights lawyers, and there have been long-standing questions about the status of the Chagos Islands under international law.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed defended the negotiations on Tuesday, telling Sky News that reported financial figures were 'not correct'. He stressed the importance of securing the future of the military base, which is also used by the United States. However, critics, including senior figures in the Trump administration and opposition MPs, have warned that the handover could give a powerful boost to China in the Indian Ocean.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam confirmed in the Mauritian National Assembly that Sir Keir had discussed the deal with him in a telephone conversation on Friday, and that the UK wanted to 'push ahead' with an agreement that includes giving Mauritius a veto on extending the lease on Diego Garcia. The renegotiated deal is currently being reviewed by the Trump administration.
A Labour backbencher told MailOnline: 'It feels like nobody has thought how this will look to the average person. Reform will go around saying there was no money for the winter fuel allowance but there's billions for this deal. It makes fighting them so much harder.' The government has yet to confirm the final terms of the agreement.
