Labour MP Alex Ballinger has defended the Government's deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, insisting it will cost £3.4billion rather than the £30billion figure claimed by critics.
Speaking to GB News, Ballinger firmly rejected the higher estimate, stating: "I'm saying the way that the Civil Service calculates the cost of these things means that it costs £3.4billion. It's how we compare it to other projects. It's 2 per cent of the defence budget."
Ballinger maintained that the agreement represents good value, describing it as "a good deal" for Britain.
Expanding on his defence of the deal's value, Ballinger highlighted that it would cost "less than 0.2 per cent of the defence budget."
Labour MP Alex Ballinger was grilled by Camilla Tominey on Starmer's Chagos deal
GB News
He put the expenditure into context by comparing it to other government spending, noting it would cost "less than a similar deal that the French agreed for a much smaller base in Africa."
The MP also drew a pointed comparison to the previous Conservative government's pandemic spending, stating the Chagos deal would cost "less than the cost of the PPE that was wasted during the mismanaged COVID pandemic."
Addressing security concerns, Ballinger dismissed suggestions that Mauritius might share military information with hostile powers as "a complete mis-characterisation."
"Mauritius is a Commonwealth ally. They agree with us that China is a threat," he told GB News.
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Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the Prime Minister confirmed that the UK had agreed a deal with Mauritius on the future of the Diego Garcia basePAHe pointed to safeguards within the agreement, saying: "There are clauses built into the contract that specifically exclude countries like China and Russia from developing anything anywhere near the base."
Ballinger noted that key allies had endorsed the arrangement, stating: "The Americans, the Australians, the Canadians and New Zealanders, they've all welcomed this deal because they know how vital it is for the Five Eyes intelligence sharing operations in the Indo-Pacific."
He rejected characterisations of Mauritius as a security risk, describing the nation as "a close friend" that is "not associated with China" but rather "an ally of India more than any other country."
When questioned by host Camilla Tominey about the Government's potential U-turn on winter fuel payments, Ballinger indicated that improved economic conditions had created new possibilities.
Ballinger told GB News that Mauritius is a 'close friend' of Britain
GB News
"We're in a different situation than we were a year ago. You'll remember, of course, the awful economic inheritance that we had," he said, referencing the financial challenges faced when Labour took office.
Ballinger pointed to recent economic successes as justification for reconsidering the policy: "We're now the fastest growing economy in the G7. I mean, that's faster than America, Canada, France, Germany."
He credited trade agreements with the US, India and EU for the economic upturn, saying these deals had been "welcomed by businesses" across the country.
"The reason we're now able to consider reversing part of the winter fuel allowance is because the economy is doing better," Ballinger explained, suggesting the improved fiscal position could allow targeted support for pensioners.
