Keir Starmer recently found himself under fire after deciding to halt the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that came amidst cooling relations with the Trump administration.
Initially, the contentious transfer was anticipated to be a highlight of the upcoming King’s Speech this May. However, plans have now been shelved indefinitely, as the US has pulled its support for the proposal.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticized this decision as “another humiliating U-turn from a government lacking strategic direction.” Meanwhile, Nigel Farage welcomed the development, calling it “very good news for global security,” given the islands’ strategic importance due to the UK-US military base located on Diego Garcia, and the fact that Mauritius maintains close ties with China.
Donald Trump, who initially backed the agreement that would have required the UK to pay up to £101 million annually to lease Diego Garcia, reversed his stance following a diplomatic rift over Middle Eastern affairs.
This shift occurred earlier this month when Sir Keir refused to allow US forces to use Diego Garcia or any UK airbases for initial strikes on Iran, citing concerns about the legality of such actions. Consequently, President Trump expressed his discontent, labeling the decision as “very disappointing” and “very woke.”
On Saturday, a former head of the diplomatic service commented that the Prime Minister had “no choice” but to retract the plan to hand over the Chagos Islands due to facing a “openly hostile” stance from Mr. Trump.
Simon McDonald, who was in charge at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when the UK was advised to hand back the Indian Ocean island archipelago to Mauritius, said the plans would now go ‘into the deep freeze’.
Lord McDonald said: ‘The UK had two objectives. One was to comply with international law. The second was to reinforce the relationship with the United States.
Keir Starmer faced a chorus of mockery for abandoning the surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in the face of deteriorating relations with the Trump administration
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the move ‘another humiliating U-turn from a government that has no strategic direction’
‘But when the President of the United States is openly hostile, the Government has to rethink.’
Mr Farage also criticised Sir Keir for blocking essential life-saving goods from reaching the Chagos Islands, after footage of British police and customs officers intercepting a boat packed with items such as water sanitisers and mosquito nets was shared online.
The video was filmed by former Conservative MP Adam Holloway, who joined a small number of Chagossians in resettling the archipelago in February.
DONALD? SORRY, WRONG NUMBER!
Who’s on the phone?
A narky US President, angered by Sir Keir Starmer’s wretched handling of the Chagos deal?
Or is the PM, pictured ahead of his beloved Arsenal’s home humbling at The Emirates on Saturday, simply letting his nerves get the better of him as he lays into a hapless aide while the Gunners’ title charge crumbled in a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth?
Call of duty: Starmer looked engaged in the phone conversation on Saturday
Calling it ‘shameful’, Reform UK leader Mr Farage said: ‘This is disgraceful, vindictive behaviour against the Chagossians on the island from a government who supposedly say they are concerned with human rights.
‘Let the Chagossians resettle their homeland and right a terrible wrong’.
Four Chagossians arrived on the shores of their homeland two months ago, along with Mr Holloway, refusing to obey a removal order issued by British authorities.
One video showed police and customs officers on a resupply boat, who went through ‘every single box’ and denied the Chagossian sailors items such as an emergency solar water maker, bedding, mobile phones, clothes and an ice maker.
Mr Holloway warned that the confiscation could prove the difference between life and death for those on the island, adding: ‘Are we to die of thirst?’
Barrister Kareesha Turner, who represents the humanitarian mission, called the situation ‘deeply concerning’, while the Chagossian interim First Minister, Misley Mandarin, accused Sir Keir of denying his people their dignity.
He said: ‘Let me speak plainly, there is no justification for denying our people the most basic provisions needed to live safely and with dignity, Keir Starmer.
‘You call yourself a human rights lawyer, Mr Starmer?’
Speaking at a defence conference in London on Saturday, Ms Badenoch said: ‘This is yet another humiliating U-turn from a government that has no strategic direction.
‘That deal should have never been on the table – paying £35billion to give away territory we already own, at a time when so many in this country are dealing with the cost of living, shows they were not in any way thinking clearly.
‘This has only happened because Conservatives have been fighting every step of the way in the Commons, in the Lords, making it very difficult for them to pass this legislation. So I welcome the news – we’ve won, we’ve got a U-turn.’
