President Donald Trump (Image: Getty)
Tories accused of “traitorous levels of national sabotage” after it emerged the Prime Minister was pressing ahead with handing over the Chagos Islands by effectively doubling the £9 billion offered to new owners Mauritius.
It places Sir Keir on collision course with , just as the Prime Minister attempts to convince the US President not to impose trade tariffs on the UK.
The Indian Ocean islands are home to a strategically vital UK-US military base and plans to hand them to Mauritius have been delayed after the US raised concerns.
But Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam said Sir Keir had told him that “he intends to push ahead with the agreement reached between Mauritius and the United Kingdom” and expects a “speedy resolution” within weeks.
The announcement was condemned by Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, who said: “This is traitorous levels of national sabotage from Starmer.”
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Speaking to the Mauritian national assembly in Port Louis, the country’s capital, Mr Ramgoolam said the UK had increased its offer to pay £9 billion in installments over 99 years to lease back the island of Diego Garcia, site of the military base. Payments will now be frontloaded and linked to inflation, which effectively doubles the total that will be paid.
In addition, a clause allowing the UK unilaterally to extend the lease by 40 years will be scrapped, which means Mauritius will be allowed to end the deal, and Mauritius will gain “complete sovereignty” of Diego Garcia.
The secretive base can host nuclear-capable bombers and submarines but in 2019 a non-binding advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice awarded the islands to Mauritius.
Senior members of ’s team have expressed concern that ceding control of the islands could weaken Western influence in the Indian Ocean and strengthen the reach of China.
A renegotiated Chagos deal is currently being reviewed by the Trump administration.
Mr Ramgoolam told the National Assembly: “President Trump is not a wolf. Let him see if the agreement is good or not.
“Now the British have, late in the day, decided that, yes, it is better to let the new administration have a look, that is what the situation is.”
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel criticised the prospective deal, saying: “It seems has learnt absolutely nothing – and is still putting his leftie shame of our country’s history over our national security, and our longstanding relationship with our closest ally.
“He has the audacity to tell the British people they will foot the bill and pay for the indignity of his surrender of the Chagos Islands, as he isolates the new US administration by bending the knee to Mauritius and emboldening our enemies with his disastrous surrender deal.
“Starmer and David Lammy must urgently explain their epic failure of diplomacy which is putting out special relationship at risk while they play pathetic gesture politics.”
Downing Street said it had “no update” on the situation on Tuesday morning.
Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois said: “It is utterly unacceptable that Mauritian MPs seem to know more about this deal than our own MPs in Parliament.
“With the Defence budget already under immense strain, the Government not only can’t say how much we’d be paying to rent back our own islands, they don’t even know which department would foot the bill. If the reported £18 billion figure is true, this is financial and strategic madness.”