Pressure is intensifying on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to abandon his contentious proposal to surrender sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, as opposition grows within his own Labour Party ranks. Senior backbenchers are urging the government to heed warnings and scrap the plan entirely, rather than merely pausing the legislative process.
Labour Backbenchers Voice Strong Opposition
Dan Carden, the Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, has emerged as a vocal critic of the deal, arguing that it compromises national security and British territorial sovereignty. He emphasised that his stance is not about obeying former US President Donald Trump, but about exercising common sense for the country's benefit.
Mr Carden stated: 'The Government should drop the Chagos deal. National security and the sovereignty of British territory have to be our top priority. The Government should snatch this victory from the jaws of surrender.'
Legislative Halt and International Concerns
The government's decision to withdraw the necessary legislation from the House of Lords, scheduled for debate this Monday, followed strong opposition from the United States. Tory peers have raised questions about whether the agreement complies with international law, particularly referencing a 1966 UN treaty that affirms UK sovereignty over the territory.
Critics of the deal warn that it could eventually cost British taxpayers up to £35 billion in payments to Mauritius, a figure substantially higher than official government estimates. The Chagos archipelago includes Diego Garcia, which hosts a crucial joint UK-US military base considered vital for national security interests.
Growing Internal Dissent Within Labour
Former Labour Minister Graham Stringer has branded the proposed handover as 'terrible' and called on Sir Keir to reconsider the entire scheme. He pointed to the significant financial implications at a time when domestic services face funding pressures.
Mr Stringer remarked: 'No Labour candidate in the next election will proudly put on their electoral leaflets how we have given £35 billion to Mauritius while our health service and military are so short of money.'
The Blackley and Middleton South MP urged the Prime Minister to transform the current legislative pause into a complete termination of what he described as a 'terrible idea.'
US Opposition and Diplomatic Tensions
Donald Trump's recent characterization of the UK's plan as 'an act of great stupidity' has added to the diplomatic complications, despite his previous endorsement of the agreement. Observers suggest this criticism may be linked to broader tensions, including UK opposition to US ambitions regarding Greenland.
A government spokesman maintained that the administration remains committed to the deal, which they argue secures the strategically important military base on Diego Garcia. They criticised parliamentary peers for what they termed interference in national security priorities.
The spokesman stated: 'The Government remains fully committed to the deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which is vital for our national security. This is irresponsible and reckless behaviour by peers, whose role is to check legislation, not interfere with our national security priorities.'
As the controversy unfolds, Labour MPs continue to express deepening concerns about the proposal's implications for British sovereignty, national security, and public finances, creating a significant challenge for the Starmer administration's foreign policy agenda.
