Surely most of us are beginning to agree: this Labour Government is becoming one of the worst in British history.
Ministers are moving from one disaster to another, from Rachel Reeves’ lack of economic understanding to Bridget Phillipson’s destruction of education.
Yet, of all the woeful decisions taken by Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet, the proposed surrender of the Chagos Islands is by far the most appalling.
The recent deal is a showcase of incompetence. Reports suggest that the UK has offered over £9 billion to hand over its territory to Mauritius, a country with strong ties to China, but one that has never had possession of these islands before.
These islands in the Indian Ocean are crucial assets, especially because they host the Diego Garcia military base, utilized mainly by the US, our key ally.
Under the terms of the deal, we will be paying to retain control of the crucial base for 99 years. But even this is strategic self-harm on a remarkable level – and a gift to our enemies who grow more dangerous by the day.
Humiliation
Yesterday, to add to the farce, the future of this dreadful deal was thrown into doubt.
After the Mauritian government failed to rubber-stamp the agreement, Downing Street suggested that the UK will now wait until after Donald Trump’s inauguration to close it. We can only hope the incoming US President will block the plan – an additional humiliation in itself.
Surely most of us are beginning to agree: this Labour Government is becoming one of the worst in British history, writes Bob Seely
In which case, why are the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy wasting time negotiating what is perhaps the worst deal in our once-great diplomatic history?
After all, there is no need to give the Chagos Islands to anyone. This is British sovereign territory. We have held the archipelago since 1814.
Mauritius has never had a substantial claim on it and was paid a hefty amount in the 1960s to ensure that remained the case.
Chagossian people – many of whom were expelled in the 1960s and now live near Gatwick Airport – have objected to giving it away.
Yet, despite all this, Labour and defeatist diplomats have pushed on.
It’s true that the Chagos talks started in 2022, when the Tories were in power. But they were sensibly halted by David Cameron when he became foreign secretary a year later and realised how damaging the move would be.
As soon as Labour was voted in though, it didn’t take long for Mr Lammy to dust down this dreadful deal.
For this is all part of a wider ‘woke’ malaise from the Labour Government, as it prioritises a radical ‘decolonisation’ ideology over genuine national interests.
As soon as Labour was voted in though, it didn’t take long for Mr Lammy, pictured, to dust down this dreadful deal, writes Bob Seely
In doing so, it is turning itself – and our country – into a global laughing stock. To make this pig’s ear of a deal presentable, ministers are, not for the first time, peddling a series of falsehoods.
Firstly, the Foreign Secretary said the deal has ‘saved’ the Diego Garcia base and guaranteed its long-term security. It hasn’t.
Around Diego Garcia is ocean. If these waters are ours, we can police them. If not, we risk our security.
Secondly, we are told that this deal will provide ‘soft’ power. No it won’t.
Any country that sees another pointlessly giving up its territory to ingratiate itself with trendy ‘developing world’ opinion will be laughed at. Where has Keir Starmer been getting his advice from? Tulip Siddiq and her aunt, the former dictator of Bangladesh?
Third, Labour has suggested our sovereignty over the islands is legally ‘contested’: a contested claim in itself.
Since 1814, the UK has formally had possession of the islands. An International Court of Justice hearing that questioned this in 2019 gave no legally binding opinion. Despite their obvious strategic value, Labour’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell has described the Chagos as ‘very tiny islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean where no one actually goes’.
I think Mr Powell is confusing his role with that of a High Street travel agent. Judging by his foolish remarks, he’d be better at the latter.
In fact, the only people who serve to benefit from giving the Chagos, pictured, away are our enemies. Last year, I was handed a dispatch from a European security agency which warned that the Russians hoped to manipulate the issue to harm Britain, writes Bob Seely
In fact, the only people who serve to benefit from giving the Chagos away are our enemies. Last year, I was handed a dispatch from a European security agency which warned that the Russians hoped to manipulate the issue to harm Britain.
This dispatch reported that the Russians were planning – and I quote – ‘measures to undermine British-Mauritian relations using the issue of sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago as a conflict generator’.
They may well have succeeded. The Russians set up meetings with Mauritian political parties, organised round-tables and statements by local politicians to pressure the UK and the US.
While we were agreeing to pay billions to Mauritian leaders, the Kremlin was potentially advising and manipulating those same politicians.
Scrambling
All of which begs the question: were the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister played by the Russians? And how do we know where the money will really go?
The icing on the cake in this woeful tale is that – due to Labour’s profligacy – Chancellor Rachel Reeves is now scrambling for funds.
Labour has taken the fastest growing economy in the G7 and, in six short months, reduced it to the brink of recession.
Labour has taken the fastest growing economy in the G7 and, in six short months, reduced it to the brink of recession, writes Bob Seely. Picture: Rachel Reeves
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To find extra cash they have taken money from pensioners, farmers, small businesses and private schools. Adding insult to injury, while Chagos negotiations continued this week, a Labour defence minister snuck out a Parliamentary written answer admitting they were planning to flog the Royal Navy’s two landing craft to help fill Treasury coffers.
Yet, despite all this, Labour apparently has £9 billion to give away over an issue that no one outside of a small clique of Left-wing politicians and human rights lawyers thinks is important.
And let’s not forget that Philippe Sands, a friend of Starmer’s for more than 20 years, has been advising the Mauritian government.
If we needed any more proof of Starmer’s anti-British sympathies, exceptionally poor judgment and lack of political nous, there we have it. His values are not our values.
Six months in, this Labour administration already feels like a fag-end government and this fractured Chagos deal a metaphor for Starmer’s own Cabinet.
Wrath
The world is becoming more dangerous. There is a major war in Europe. Our enemies are waging a hybrid war against us and may be preparing for global conflict. China continues to arm itself to take Taiwan by force.
What do Keir Starmer and David Lammy do? Do they ensure our defences are robust? Do they see to it that our alliances are strong? Do they ensure our supply chains are resilient and not too dependent on China?
No, they kowtow to Beijing, risk the wrath of the incoming US President and try to hand over billions for a pointless Indian Ocean takeaway.
Make no mistake, this Chagos agreement is shaping up to be the worst diplomatic deal in our history, by a Government shaping up to be just as woeful.
Our enemies are already armed to the hilt, and watching us limp along with ill-concealed glee.
n DR BOB SEELY is a military and security expert and author of The Return Of Total War, to be published by Biteback in the spring.
