Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has launched a scathing attack on the Labour Government over its decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, describing it as "an absolute stain" on the country.
The criticism comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed an agreement today transferring sovereignty of the disputed territory.
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965 when it was still a British colony, with Britain purchasing the islands for £3million.
Mauritius has long claimed it was illegally forced to give them away in exchange for independence.
Priti Patel furiously blasts Labour’s Chagos surrender
GB NEWS
Speaking to GB News, Patel said: "This is devastating. But you know, I'm going to be really quite blunt about this.
"This absolutely will define this rotten Labour government, the fact that they just do not care about Britain, Britain's place in the world, flying the flag of the United Kingdom.
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"This is about the sovereignty of the British Indian Overseas Territory, which, by the way, we already own. And now they are basically giving it to the government of Mauritius. We do not even know how much that is going to cost.
Put that into the context of your wonderful viewers who go out today, go out to work every day, pay their taxes, pay more taxes under this awful government with Rachel Reeves and company.
"And yet, this Labour government has refused to even say what the total cost of this will be.
"We have been speculating for months that this will be in the billions of pounds, that is, billions of hard-pressed taxpayers' cash.
"It is an absolute stain, quite frankly, on our country and a stain on our democracy because Parliament has not had the chance to do the scrutiny.
"I wrote a letter to Calamity Lammy back in March 28, where still endless questions that have been put to him have been unanswered.
"Just one final point, we have been told that there will be a statement in Parliament later on today. I push for questions every day, urgent questions, statements.
"The Defence Secretary will be giving the statement, he is obviously substituting for David Lammy, who is clearly too much of a coward to come to the House and actually start answering not just these questions but the hundreds that still remain unanswered by backbenchers in Parliament."
Under the new deal, Britain will cede control to Mauritius but lease Diego Garcia for 99 years
FLICKR/PAUnder the new deal, Britain will cede control to Mauritius but lease Diego Garcia for 99 years to maintain the joint US-UK military base, which Starmer described as "right at the foundation of our safety and security at home".
"The agreement secures the future of a base that is right at the foundation of our safety and security at home," Starmer said, referring to the Diego Garcia military installation.
Under the new deal, Britain will cede control to Mauritius but lease Diego Garcia for 99 years to maintain the joint US-UK military base, which Starmer described as "right at the foundation of our safety and security at home".
