Tories to Challenge Chagos Islands Deal in Parliament Over Strategic Concerns

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The Conservative Party is set to demand urgent answers regarding Labour’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following an announcement by Sir Keir Starmer. The islands, British-owned since 1814 and home to a crucial US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, have become a focal point of political contention. Andrew Mitchell, the shadow foreign secretary, has indicated that the Tories will push for a Commons showdown on Monday to scrutinize the agreement.

 

Mitchell confirmed that the party will table an urgent question if a government minister does not issue a statement explaining the rationale behind the decision. Speaking on *Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips*, Mitchell expressed concerns about the deal, saying: "Starting the negotiations is not the same as concluding them." He further implied that while discussions had been initiated under James Cleverly, the former foreign secretary in 2022, this outcome would not have been endorsed by previous Conservative leadership.

 

"From what I’ve seen, this is definitely not a deal either David Cameron or indeed James Cleverly would have done, and we need to see the terms that they’re offering," Mitchell remarked, underscoring the need for a detailed explanation of the agreement. He raised particular concerns about the strategic and financial implications, particularly regarding potential Chinese influence in the region. “We need to know about what protection there is against Chinese encroachment into the archipelago, we need to know what money is being provided by the British taxpayer. We need to probe the terms of the lease,” Mitchell said.

 

As a highly strategic location, Diego Garcia plays a pivotal role in both US and UK military operations. The Tories are alarmed that any shift in sovereignty could alter the dynamics of the existing military agreements, potentially exposing the region to external influence. "From what we’ve seen so far, this looks like a bad deal for Britain," Mitchell warned, emphasizing that the House of Commons is the appropriate platform to dissect the decision.

 

Mitchell's remarks suggest that the Conservatives are preparing to mount a significant challenge to Labour's handling of the Chagos Islands negotiations, framing the issue as a matter of national security and financial transparency. The opposition party is expected to push for clarity on whether British interests, both militarily and economically, have been adequately safeguarded in this arrangement.

 

With this impending Commons debate, the political pressure on Labour is mounting, as the Conservatives prepare to scrutinize the finer details of a decision they believe may weaken Britain's strategic standing in the region.

 

Based on a report from Daily Telegraph 2024-10-08