PMQs: Chagos Islands deal is immoral surrender, says Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch has claimed the government’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius amounts to an “immoral surrender”.

Addressing the House at prime minister’s questions, the Conservative leader said that “when Labour negotiates, our country loses”.

She said the deal with Mauritius would see money handed over which “belongs to our children and their children”.

“This is an immoral surrender so north London lawyers can boast at their dinner parties,” Badenoch added.

Keir Starmer responded: “This is a military base [Diego Garcia] that is vital to our national security. A number of years ago, the legal certainty of that base was thrown into doubt.

“Without legal certainty, the base cannot operate in practical terms as it should. That is bad for our national security, and it’s a gift to our adversaries.

“If the Leader of the Opposition is properly briefed on the national security implications, when she’s asking these questions, which she’s perfectly entitled to do, then she knows exactly what I am talking about in terms of national security and legal certainty.”

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