Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been accused of overreaching after criticising Nigel Farage over comments about the Chagos Islands, with the Tories reminded that they started the ball rolling on giving away the territory.
Writing for the Daily Express, political commentator Jonathan Saxty said Badenoch attacked Farage over what she called "humiliating" comments about giving the Chagos Islands to the Americans. However, Saxty argued that Farage never said he would sign the British territory over to Washington.
Tory Record on Chagos and Defence
Saxty pointed out that the Conservatives began the process of giving away the Chagos territory to Mauritius, an ally of China, not to the Americans. He added that the taxpayer remains on the hook for the deal, which Labour's Andy Burnham is continuing.
He also noted that the Conservative government Badenoch served in "gutted our armed forces," allowed UK troop numbers to crash, and failed to invest in military equipment.
What Farage Actually Said
Saxty quoted Farage as saying: "I'd have gone in and said, 'Right, you know what, mate? Chagos, it's yours'. Diego Garcia, in perpetuity, the most strategic American military base in the world, which it is."
Farage added: "Outside mainland America, Diego is the most important thing America has for nuclear subs, for long-range bombers, for all of it.. I'd have said, 'Right, I'm guaranteeing you that. I'm giving up on this surrender. In return, just please stop talking about the Falkland Islands'."
Saxty clarified that Farage was talking about the lease of the military base of Diego Garcia, which is currently used by UK and US militaries, is guaranteed to remain a UK-US base under the Mauritius deal, and is imperative for Western security.
Call to Stick to Facts
Saxty concluded that Labour is not doing better, claiming Burnham would rather give taxpayer money to illegal immigrants than fund defence, and that the Labour government is pressing ahead with the Chagos deal the Tories started.
He advised Badenoch: "If you want to win the argument then probably best to stick to the facts."
