GB News Political Correspondent Katherine Forster grilled Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer today, asking him "how he can justify" the Chagos deal.
It comes after Keir Starmer signed the agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius today, following a dramatic legal challenge that briefly threatened to derail the deal.
Katherine Forster asked Keir Starmer: "Prime Minister, what do you say to people who can't understand why you can find 100 million a year, billions over 99 years, but you can't find money to support people with disabilities.
"You were a human rights lawyer. You're having to make this deal because of an international legal ruling.
Katherine Forster questioned Keir Starmer on the agreement
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"But the Chagossians that brought that case last night, that got that temporary injunction, feel that it breaches their human rights, and they're being treated just as shoddily as when the Government booted them out of the Chagos Islands back in the 60s. What do you say to them?"
Responding to Forster's challenging questions, Starmer defended the expenditure by emphasising his primary responsibility as Prime Minister.
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"The first duty of a Prime Minister is to keep the country safe and secure, and this base is vital in that respect - its location, its physical use, and its capability, including its spectrum capability," Starmer said.
He stressed the base's strategic importance in global operations and protecting British armed forces.
"When measured against other defence spending, it costs less year on year than running an aircraft carrier without the aircraft," the Prime Minister added.
Addressing the legal aspects, he explained that an advisory opinion had already been issued against the UK.
On the question of the Chagossians' rights, Starmer acknowledged the differing views within the community.
"Look, there are different views within the community. But there was a legal challenge, and that argument had to be made.
"In a way, I'm glad it was made because now it has been aired, now it has been heard, and now it has been argued in court."
Earlier today, an emergency injunction had been granted at 2.25am to Bertrice Pompe, one of two British women born on the Chagos Islands who sought to block the agreement.
Starmer acknowledged the differing views within the community.
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However, a different judge later discharged the injunction after an urgent hearing, clearing the way for the Prime Minister to finalise the arrangement.
The deal will cost the UK £101million per year, amounting to what the Prime Minister described as a "net overall cost" of £3.4billion over the 99-year lease period.
Under the terms of the agreement, Britain will retain full operational control of Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands and home to a crucial UK-US military base.
A 24-nautical-mile buffer zone will be established around the island where nothing can be built without UK consent.
