Humiliation for Starmer as Lords inflict FOUR defeats on Chagos Islands 'surrender' legislation and demand he reveal the REAL cost of the handove Keir Starmer was humiliated in the Lords last night over his controversial deal to 'surrender' the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The move to cede control of the Indian Ocean archipelago suffered a series of defeats at the hands of peers, including a demand for the publication of the total cost of the deal, which is disputed. As well as establishing a £40 million fund for Chagossians expelled from the islands, the UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at least £120 million annually during the 99-year agreement, a total cost in cash terms of at least £13 billion. The Government, however, estimates the bill will be lower at around £101 million a year, while critics argue it will be much higher - potentially as high as £35billion. Dame Priti Patel, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary, said: 'Once again Labour have suffered a humiliating defeat on their shameful anti-British Chagos Surrender Bill. 'At every stage of this process, the Government has sought to silence and ignore the Chagossian people and dodge scrutiny for the outrageous handover of British territory and £35 billion of taxpayers' money. https://mol.im/a/15438041

Forum Home