Senior political leaders, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Nigel Farage, Suella Braverman, Ben Habib, and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, have united in urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon a controversial £9 billion agreement to cede British sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
In a strongly worded letter, co-signed by leading Conservatives and Reform UK figures, the group warns that rushing the deal ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration could endanger UK national security, strain the ‘special relationship’ with the US, and saddle taxpayers with an unjustifiable financial burden.
Starmer’s Last-Minute Deal
The reported deal would see the UK hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, home to the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, in exchange for a 99-year lease to retain operational control. Yesterday, Mauritius claimed the two sides had reached consensus, with a special council of ministers expected to approve the agreement this week.
Sources close to the talks suggest Starmer is pushing to finalise the pact before Trump’s return to the White House on Monday, a move seen as politically motivated to avoid clashing with the president-elect, who is reportedly strongly opposed to the deal.
The Open Letter
In their letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the group criticised the timing and secrecy surrounding the negotiations. They wrote:
“This decision, if completed in haste, would undermine our national interest, jeopardise our strategic alliances, and create unnecessary economic and security risks.”
The signatories, including former Labour MP Baroness Hoey, Sir John Redwood, Lord Dan Hannan and Richard Tice, stressed the importance of Diego Garcia as a cornerstone of UK-US defence strategy in the Indo-Pacific. They cautioned against alienating Britain’s closest ally and emboldening adversaries such as China, which has increased its influence in the region.
The letter described the £9 billion cost to taxpayers as “economically indefensible” and criticised the lack of transparency, stating:
“At a time when public finances are under severe pressure… committing billions to lease back a base we already control is economically indefensible.”
The group also condemned the absence of consultation with Parliament and the Chagossian people, who were displaced from their homeland during the establishment of the military base.
Farage and Patel Criticise the Deal
Nigel Farage, a close ally of Donald Trump, labelled the agreement a “disaster waiting to happen” and predicted “outright hostility” from the incoming US administration.
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel echoed these concerns, accusing Starmer of undermining Britain’s national interest. She said:
“The surrender of our sovereignty over Chagos not only leaves us exposed to greater security threats, but it is economically illiterate… Labour ministers must urgently come clean on what exactly this surrender is going to cost us.”
Trump’s Opposition
The agreement has raised concerns in Washington, where Trump and his team reportedly fear it could compromise US security interests in the Indian Ocean. There are also worries that the deal might inadvertently strengthen China’s position in the region, as Mauritius maintains close trade ties with Beijing.
Downing Street is said to have offered a significant portion of the £9 billion payment upfront to secure the agreement before Monday’s deadline. However, details of the financial terms remain unclear.
A Call for Transparency
The signatories have called on Starmer to pause the negotiations and prioritise a full parliamentary debate, greater consultation with the Chagossian people, and alignment with US allies to ensure the deal does not undermine Britain’s security or financial stability.
“To force this deal through in a matter of days, driven by political expediency, would be reckless and short-sighted. It would undermine trust in the UK government and leave an indelible stain on Britain’s reputation as a defender of sovereignty, accountability, and strategic foresight,” the letter concluded.
What’s at Stake
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since the 1960s, with Diego Garcia serving as a critical joint UK-US military base. The base has supported operations in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific, and its strategic importance has only grown in recent years.
If approved, the deal would mark the end of British sovereignty over the islands but leave the UK footing a substantial financial bill while leasing back control.
With President Trump’s return to the Oval Office imminent, the future of the agreement remains uncertain. Critics have urged Starmer to consider the long-term consequences of a rushed decision and ensure the deal serves the best interests of Britain and its allies.
Main Photo: Photos licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Files from Wikimedia Commons.
