TOP secret national security concerns lie behind PM Sir Keir Starmer’s willingness to pay billions to Mauritius to take over the Chagos Islands.
Sir Keir told MPs international legal rulings on the Indian Ocean territory’s status put the operation of a critical UK/US military base in doubt.
National security concerns lie behind the PM’s willingness to pay billions to Mauritius to take over the Chagos IslandsReuters
He was responding to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s jibe at yesterday’s PMQs that the plan was an “immoral surrender”.
The PM said the base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia, was vital to our national security but its legal certainty had been thrown into doubt.
He added: “Without legal certainty, the base cannot operate in practical terms as it should. It’s a gift for our adversaries.”
The secretive base is used by nuclear-capable US bombers and nuclear-powered submarines.
Sir Keir suggested Mrs Badenoch has not been fully briefed about the issues and has not requested information on the Chagos Islands from him.
He said that if the Leader of the Opposition was properly briefed “she knows exactly what I am talking about in terms of national security and legal certainty” but if not “she’s not fit to be prime minister”.
A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was “playing politics with national security” and the Prime Minister’s comments were “a distraction technique”.
The spokesman said: “Kemi Badenoch sat in the Cabinet until six months ago, she talks to James Cleverly, she knows the details behind this case.
“That does not preclude her from pointing out that spending £18 billion to give away our own territory is an utter disgrace.”
Mr Cleverly, who was in the Foreign Office when the negotiations started, said he had the same information as the Government and neither he nor successor Lord Cameron had struck a deal to hand over the islands.
Sir Keir Starmer told MPs international legal rulings on the territory’s status put the operation of a critical UK/US military base in doubt Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
