Tories Accuse Keir Starmer of Misleading Public Over £30bn Chagos Islands Deal

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's recent agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years, has sparked intense criticism from Conservative leaders who describe the deal as a "horrible surrender" and a "fundamental betrayal" of British territory. Starmer defended the agreement, asserting it was necessary to comply with international law and to prevent other nations, like China, from establishing military presence there, estimating the cost at £3.4 billion over 99 years. However, Tory officials, including Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge and Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers, have challenged the financial claims, arguing that the real cost could exceed £30 billion due to inflation and development funding commitments, leading to calls for an investigation by the UK Statistics Authority into alleged misuse of statistics. Conservatives also accuse Starmer of undermining national security and misleading the public, labeling the deal a costly and strategically flawed "surrender". Labour's position is that the deal secures long-term stability and addresses historical injustices, but opposition voices warn of the financial burden and geopolitical risks involved. The controversy underscores deep political divisions over Britain's approach to its overseas territories and defense strategy.