Downing Street has slammed the brakes on their deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after a storm erupted over the eye-watering cost and fears of a backbench mutiny.
The controversial deal, said to cost the UK over £90million-a-year for the next 99 years, was due to be signed after President Trump lifted US objections earlier this year.
But according to The Times, No10 has now put the brakes on amid fears of a “toxic” backlash from MPs, furious at being asked to vote for £5billion in welfare cuts while billions are handed overseas. One senior source told The Times: “The deal is ready to go but Downing Street is refusing to give it the green light.”
And another insider revealed: “They know that they’re going to be attacked by the Tories and Reform for giving up sovereignty of the Chagos islands but it makes it much worse if they’re also being attacked from their own side.”
Talks to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago were reportedly “ready to sign” after US officials dropped their opposition, but political chiefs in No10 have now pulled the handbrake over timing fears.
Under the deal, Britain would hand the islands to Mauritius but lease back Diego Garcia, a remote UK military base also used by the US, for 99 years.
But Lord Kempsell and the Great British PAC, backed by a powerful cross-party group of MPs and peers, have led fierce opposition to the deal, accusing ministers of selling out sovereignty “in secret” and “at huge cost” to the taxpayer. The Conservative Post also ran a petition that got nearly 15,000 readers to sign opposing the deal.
In a blistering letter to Keir Starmer and David Lammy, the Great British PAC, backed by Rt Hon Liz Truss, Ben Habib, Nigel Farage MP, Suella Braverman KC MP, Rupert Lowe MP, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, and other leading politicians, warned:
“Your government’s reported offer of £9 billion to Mauritius… is not in the interests of the British people.”
“It would undermine our national interest, jeopardise our strategic alliances, and create unnecessary economic and security risks.”
The signatories, including Baroness Hoey, Lord Hannan, Richard Tice MP, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Jim Allister KC MP and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, also demanded full parliamentary scrutiny and warned of growing Chinese influence in the region.
The letter fumed:
“This deal appears to have been negotiated in secret, bypassing not only meaningful consultation with Parliament but also with the Chagossian people themselves, who have historically suffered displacement and marginalisation. How can your government justify making decisions about their homeland without their voices being heard?
“Your refusal to engage Parliament openly on this issue is deeply troubling. It is underhanded to push through such a significant and irreversible decision without proper scrutiny, especially given its ramifications for national security, public finances, and our relationship with the United States.”
The Great British PAC’s letter demanded the deal must be thoroughly debated and scrutinised in Parliament, include full consultation with the Chagossian community, be negotiated in alignment with our US allies to safeguard shared security interests, and provide a detailed, transparent breakdown of costs and terms for public review.
Insiders say the final bill was being kept under wraps, but figures being discussed were around £9billion total, paid in dollars and linked to inflation. That means payments would rise every year.
The bill is based on what the US currently pays to rent a base in Djibouti, but Mauritian negotiators reportedly pushed for more, arguing Diego Garcia’s remote location makes it “more valuable”.
Meanwhile, Labour’s own benches are in revolt, with up to 170 MPs warning they could vote against or abstain on the welfare cuts.
Insiders say top Foreign Office figures and national security adviser Jonathan Powell are still lobbying to get the deal over the line, but admit “everyone has overreacted to the local election results” and are scared of doing anything controversial.
But another source told The Times: “I don’t think we’ll be hearing about Chagos for a while. They want to take the sting out of it.”
A massive well done to Lord Ross Kempsell, the Great British PAC and all the campaigning groups for standing up for Britain and forcing a pause on this dodgy deal. Their tireless campaigning has protected taxpayers’ cash, stood firm on British sovereignty, and reminded ministers that secretive, rushed sell-offs won’t be tolerated.
The fight may not be over… but for now, Britain holds the line
Main Image: Diego Garcia military base is of significant strategic importance, particularly for operations in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Scene Camera Operator: PH2 Frazier. Copyright: Public Domain.
