Labour has come under fire for handing over more taxpayer cash to Mauritius to support growing their economy, a year after provisionally signing a £35billion deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to the African nation.
Critics have accused the party of being more interested in “helping people abroad” while British families are “struggling at home" with rising food inflation and energy bills.
The criticism comes after new research found the Government scheme planned to support Mauritius with economic growth, security, and climate change.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spending was uncovered in research carried out for GB News by the Taxpayer’s Alliance (TPA).
Responding to the findings, Shadow Secretary Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel told the People's Channel: “Keir Starmer’s Chagos Surrender represented a serious threat to our national security and that of our allies.
"The Conservatives fought tirelessly to get it consigned to the ash heap of history.
“Not content with paying Mauritius for the privilege of leasing back our own military base, Starmer also agreed to hand over more hard-pressed taxpayers’ cash to grow the Mauritian economy.
"It beggars belief – and it must be stopped."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed a £101million-a-year deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to the African nation of Mauritius
|GETTY
She added: “This is yet another example of ludicrous Labour waste.
"The Conservatives will slash foreign aid spending and put Britain’s national interest first.”
The agreement will see the two countries deepen their existing trade relationship whilst providing more UK export financing, although it has been delayed following a loss of support from United States President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the new strategic partnership commits to tackling what the two nations call “the defining global challenge of our time: climate change”.
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Dame Priti Patel said: 'Keir Starmer’s Chagos Surrender represented a serious threat to our national security and that of our allies'
| GETTYThe scheme promises to help the Mauritians transition to energy independence with renewable sources.
As a result, the Government plans to offer access to a £12million climate finance scheme, which will help the nation access hundreds of millions of pounds through private sector arrangements and green funding.
In response, Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: “Not a single penny of taxpayers’ money should be going to Mauritius.”
He explained: “This is another scandalous waste of money from a Government more interested in helping people abroad than those struggling here at home.”
Britain and Mauritius have now committed to strengthening the international rules-based system, reinforcing maritime security and combating climate change.
While expanding law enforcement cooperation in areas such as cyber training and investigations, to further reduce crime. Investigations Campaign Manager at the TPA, Callum McGoldrick, commented: "Hard-pressed British taxpayers will be bewildered to find out they are picking up the tab for projects in Mauritius.”
“Surrendering the Chagos Islands was bad enough, but expecting UK families to fund maritime security and climate programs there too is rubbing salt into the wound.
“At a time when households face a record tax burden, ministers must pull the plug on these foreign aid pet projects and start prioritising the British public who actually foot the bill."
An FCDO spokesman said: “National security is the first duty of this government.
"That’s why, to fund a necessary increase in defence spending, the Government has taken the decision to reduce the UK ODA budget to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027.
“We remain absolutely committed to tackling the global challenges of hunger, disease, insecurity and conflict.
"But we have been clear we must modernise our approach to development to reflect the changing global context.”
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