Authorities rejects declare Chagos deal to price £18bn amid rising Labour backlash
Good morning. PMQs is often principally about home politics, however immediately – regardless of the federal government doing its finest to advertise an announcement about a £2.65bn funding in flood defences – overseas coverage could nicely dominate. That’s partly due to President Trump, and his want to depart workplace with the US territorially larger than it was when it arrived (one thing that went out of style in most components of the respectable world across the finish of the nineteenth century).
Final night time Keir Starmer had dinner with the prime minister of Denmark, the nation that has sovereignty over Greenland, and late final night time No 10 put out a press release that barely firmed up Starmer’s assist for Denmark in its willpower to see off Trump’s plan to purchase/annex the huge, frozen island. Extra on that quickly.
Now it seems Trump needs so as to add Gaza to the US property porfolio too. Or one thing like that. At a press convention within the White Home he stated he wished to “take over” the Palestinian territory, however the precise particulars are hazy and, as ever with Trump, it’s fairly laborious to know the place this plan sits on his lethal critical/wild fantasy spectrum. Steve Reed, the surroundings secretary on broadcast responsibility this morning, has already politely expressed the UK authorities’s opposition to the concept, however Starmer is sort of sure to be requested about it too.
However at PMQs Kemi Badenoch could nicely resolve to give attention to the Chagos Islands – one place that Trump has not determined he needs to beat for the US, at the least not but. You may think about, although, why Starmer is perhaps tempted to simply hand it over. Britain has sovereignty, as a colonial-era hangover, and is within the strategy of giving it to Mauritius. More and more, the deal is getting mired in controversy.
Final night time they have been additionally working late within the International Workplace on a media assertion. Yesterday afternoon, after the Occasions ran a narrative, prompted by feedback from Navin Ramgoolam, the Mauritian prime minister, in his nationwide meeting, saying the UK was now ready at hand over round £18bn to Mauritius as a part of the deal, No 10 refused to disclaim the story. The UK is planning to switch sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, as a result of it retains dropping instances in worldwide courts over possession, however it’s planning to pay for the giveaway too so it will possibly keep it up operating the UK/US airbase on Diego Garcia for an additional 99 years. There was some authorities background briefing to the impact that the £18bn determine was not correct, however the No 10 line left journalists with the impression that the Occasions story was broadly correct.
Lastly, at 11pm final night time, the International Workplace put out a press release rebutting the Occasions story a bit extra strongly. It additionally claimed the Occasions was improper to say the deal has been revised in order that Mauritius may have a veto over any UK request to increase the 99-year Diego Garcia lease which it didn’t have within the unique model of the deal agreed final autumn. A International Workplace spokesperson stated:
This reporting is wrong.
The figures being quoted are totally inaccurate and deceptive.
There was no change to the phrases of extension within the treaty.
The UK will solely signal a deal that’s in our nationwide curiosity.
This will probably be of some use to Starmer if Badenoch raises the query at PMQs.
However what’s far more important is the information that some senior Labour figures are privately aghast on the deal. In a report for Bloomberg final night time, Alex Wickham stated that two cupboard ministers are in opposition to it. Wickham stated:
An individual acquainted with the views of 1 cupboard minister stated they didn’t perceive why the UK was agreeing to pay giant sums of cash to Mauritius at a time when the Treasury was telling UK authorities departments to organize for spending cuts.
A second individual acquainted with a distinct cupboard member’s views stated Starmer ought to cancel the deal. Each prompt Starmer was appearing on authorized recommendation from lawyer common Richard Hermer.
On the At this time programme this morning Henry Zeffman, the BBC’s chief political correspondent, stated he was listening to the identical factor. He stated:
Making calls on this story to contacts in authorities final night time, it turned clear to me that among the most senior folks in authorities are against this deal … Simply wanting by way of the phrases in my pocket book, “terrible”, “mad”, “impossible to understand” – these are the phrases I can use, at the least at the moment of day on air. However there are different phrases in my pocket book. And these are from very senior authorities sources.
Of their London Playbook briefing for Politico, Sam Blewett and Bethany Dawson say Labour backbenchers are sad too.
One MP who fears Nigel Farage’s outfit may very well be closing in on their marginal seat advised Playbook the treaty could be “Reform rocket fuel.” “How am I supposed to tell my constituents that we took away their winter fuel allowance to pay a foreign country to take our sovereign territory?” they messaged to say.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: David Lammy, the overseas secretary, is because of maintain a press convention in Kyiv along with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha.
Midday: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.
After 12.30pm: Angela Rayner, the deputy PM and housing secretary, is because of give a Commons assertion on which English councils are being allowed to delay elections to allow them to reorganise into unitary authorities.
If you wish to contact me, please submit a message beneath the road or message me on social media. I can’t learn all of the messages BTL, however should you put “Andrew” in a message geared toward me, I’m extra prone to see it as a result of I seek for posts containing that phrase.
If you wish to flag one thing up urgently, it’s best to make use of social media. You may attain me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X however particular person Guardian journalists are there, I nonetheless have my account, and should you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I’ll see it and reply if needed.
I discover it very useful when readers level out errors, even minor typos. No error is just too small to right. And I discover your questions very attention-grabbing too. I can’t promise to answer to all of them, however I’ll attempt to reply to as many as I can, both BTL or generally within the weblog.
Key occasions
Lammy says Trump ‘proper’ about want for rebuilding in Gaza – whereas rejecting his proposals for Palestinians to be eliminated
Pippa Crerar
David Lammy, the overseas secretary, has stated that President Trump is “right” to say Gaza should be rebuilt – whereas confirming that the federal government is oppose to his suggestion that they need to be pressured to depart their houses.
At a press convention in Kyiv in Ukraine, the place he’s on a go to, Lammy was requested what the federal government considered Trump’s plan for a US takeover of Gaza, and whether or not such a plan would adjust to worldwide legislation.
Lammy replied:
Donald Trump is correct. Taking a look at these scenes, Palestinians who’ve been horrendously displaced over so many months of warfare, it’s clear that Gaza is mendacity in rubble.
Now we have all the time been clear in our view that we should see two states and we should see Palestinians capable of stay and prosper of their homelands in Gaza, within the West Financial institution. That’s what we need to get to.
That’s the reason it’s vital we transfer out of part certainly one of this hostage deal, to stage two after which to part three and reconstruct Gaza. We’ll play our half in that assist for reconstruction, working alongside the Palestinian authority and Gulf and Arab companions. That’s the assure to make sure that there’s a future for Palestinians of their residence.
In rejecting the plan whereas on the identical time utilizing Trump-positive language, Lammy was adopting the strategy adopted by his cupboard colleague Steve Reed earlier (see 9.55am). The Conservative occasion can also be adopting an identical tone. (See 10.16am.)
Danish PM praises UK as certainly one of their ‘greatest allies’ after talks with Starmer protecting ‘threats’ in Arctic and Excessive North
Keir Starmer praised the “important role” Denmark performs in defending the safety of the Arctic area as he met his Danish counterpart final night time, amid a diplomatic row with the US over the sovereignty of Greenland, PA Media stories.
The PM hosted Mette Frederiksen for a working dinner in Downing Road night as her nation faces a dispute with Donald Trump, who has stated he needs to accumulate the Nordic island. In public No 10 has signalled its assist for Denmark, whereas making an attempt to keep away from saying something which may antagonise Trump or escalate the dispute.
Final night time, in a readout of the talks, Quantity 10 made no particular point out of Greenland however stated the 2 leaders agreed to “step up joint cooperation to address threats” confronted within the Excessive North area.
Starmer welcomed a brand new navy bundle introduced by Denmark to defend the Arctic from “hostile activity”, in response to a Downing Road spokesperson.
It comes after the Nordic nation stated it might spend 14.6 billion kroner (£1.6bn) to spice up safety within the area following renewed curiosity from Trump in controlling Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, PA says.
Talking exterior Quantity 10 following her assembly with Starmer, Frederiksen stated they’d agreed to “work closely together” on making certain the safety of the Excessive North, which incorporates the island.
Requested whether or not she had acquired assist from the UK prime minister on the difficulty of Greenland throughout their assembly on Tuesday, Frederiksen stated:
We had an excellent assembly.
I contemplate UK as certainly one of our greatest and most vital allies, and he’s an in depth buddy and colleague to me and to Denmark.
Now we have agreed tonight that we’ll work carefully collectively on the Arctic area and the necessity for making certain the safety surroundings in what we name the Excessive North, together with Greenland and the Arctic area normally.
So it was an excellent assembly, and never solely wanting on the Arctic area, we’ve got agreed to work nearer collectively on defence and deterrence and on the completely different safety points which are surrounding us in these years.
In its readout, a No 10 spokesperson stated:
Turning to safety within the Excessive North and Arctic area, the prime minister paid tribute to the vital position Denmark was enjoying and welcomed their latest announcement of a brand new navy bundle to defend the Arctic from hostile exercise.
Each leaders agreed to step up joint cooperation to handle threats within the Arctic and Excessive North, working with allies by way of Nato and JEF [Joint Expeditionary Force] Companions.
The Excessive North is a time period utilized in defence circles protecting the Arctic and North Atlantic. It contains Greenland.
Priti Patel declines to again Trump’s imaginative and prescient for Gaza, saying ‘it isn’t for one nation’ to dictate its future
Priti Patel, the shadow overseas secretary, was additionally doing a media spherical this morning. She is arguably essentially the most pro-Israeli Tory holding the International Workplace transient for years, however she wouldn’t endorse President Trump’s plan for Gaza.
Like Steve Reed in his interviews (see 9.55am), she made a degree of sounding postive about Trump – whereas rejecting the substance of what he was proposing.
In an inteview on the At this time programme, she stated:
We’re nonetheless in a ceasefire with three phases. We’re not by way of the primary part.
Coming to the rebuilding is, in fact, part three. Having a imaginative and prescient – and what we heard in a single day completely feels like a imaginative and prescient by way of rebuilding, creating hope, alternative, prosperity for the folks of Gaza – that’s clearly an finish state.
However easy methods to get there?
Patel stated that the UK must be working with its companions, “Arab countries in the Middle East”, on a long-term answer. These international locations are against the Trump plan, though Patel didn’t spell that out.
She additionally stated that she was focused on having a “reformed PA [Palestinian Authority]” operating Gaza – which isn’t a part of what Trump appears to be planning in any respect.
And he or she careworn the necessity for worldwide settlement on Gaza’s future. She stated:
I feel we’re a good distance, if I’ll say so, from even talking about new governance, new constructions.
Clearly, that is an aspiration. These are discussions that should, should completely occur. However they’ve acquired to occur collectively. It’s not for one nation to dictate what that’s going to appear like. That is going to be a negotiation.
Against this, Trump does appear to need to dictate unilaterally what’s going to occur in Gaza.
UK would oppose Trump plan to cease Palestinians returning to Gaza, says minister – whereas praising president for ceasefire position
The UK authorities would oppose any plan that might cease Palestinians returning to their residence in Gaza, Steve Reed, the surroundings secretary, stated this morning.
In an interview on the At this time programme, requested about President Trump’s proposal for a US take-over of Gaza, and the implicit ethnic cleaning of Palestinians who’ve been residing there, Reed acknowledged the federal government’s opposition to the concept – whereas on the identical time making an attempt to keep away from direct criticism of Trump. Reed even praised him for the position he performed in securing the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Reed stated:
I feel it’s proper that I ought to share with you the UK Authorities’s view of what ought to occur.
It might be inappropriate for me to supply a operating commentary on what Donald Trump says, or certainly every other world chief.
Whereas we’re speaking about Donald Trump, I feel he deserves credit score for his position in securing this ceasefire within the first place. That was clearly the vital staging submit in direction of getting the long run peace that may need to see.
However … the UK authorities’s view is, and can stay, that Palestinians should be capable to return to their houses and rebuild their shattered lives.
Authorities rejects declare Chagos deal to price £18bn amid rising Labour backlash
Good morning. PMQs is often principally about home politics, however immediately – regardless of the federal government doing its finest to advertise an announcement about a £2.65bn funding in flood defences – overseas coverage could nicely dominate. That’s partly due to President Trump, and his want to depart workplace with the US territorially larger than it was when it arrived (one thing that went out of style in most components of the respectable world across the finish of the nineteenth century).
Final night time Keir Starmer had dinner with the prime minister of Denmark, the nation that has sovereignty over Greenland, and late final night time No 10 put out a press release that barely firmed up Starmer’s assist for Denmark in its willpower to see off Trump’s plan to purchase/annex the huge, frozen island. Extra on that quickly.
Now it seems Trump needs so as to add Gaza to the US property porfolio too. Or one thing like that. At a press convention within the White Home he stated he wished to “take over” the Palestinian territory, however the precise particulars are hazy and, as ever with Trump, it’s fairly laborious to know the place this plan sits on his lethal critical/wild fantasy spectrum. Steve Reed, the surroundings secretary on broadcast responsibility this morning, has already politely expressed the UK authorities’s opposition to the concept, however Starmer is sort of sure to be requested about it too.
However at PMQs Kemi Badenoch could nicely resolve to give attention to the Chagos Islands – one place that Trump has not determined he needs to beat for the US, at the least not but. You may think about, although, why Starmer is perhaps tempted to simply hand it over. Britain has sovereignty, as a colonial-era hangover, and is within the strategy of giving it to Mauritius. More and more, the deal is getting mired in controversy.
Final night time they have been additionally working late within the International Workplace on a media assertion. Yesterday afternoon, after the Occasions ran a narrative, prompted by feedback from Navin Ramgoolam, the Mauritian prime minister, in his nationwide meeting, saying the UK was now ready at hand over round £18bn to Mauritius as a part of the deal, No 10 refused to disclaim the story. The UK is planning to switch sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, as a result of it retains dropping instances in worldwide courts over possession, however it’s planning to pay for the giveaway too so it will possibly keep it up operating the UK/US airbase on Diego Garcia for an additional 99 years. There was some authorities background briefing to the impact that the £18bn determine was not correct, however the No 10 line left journalists with the impression that the Occasions story was broadly correct.
Lastly, at 11pm final night time, the International Workplace put out a press release rebutting the Occasions story a bit extra strongly. It additionally claimed the Occasions was improper to say the deal has been revised in order that Mauritius may have a veto over any UK request to increase the 99-year Diego Garcia lease which it didn’t have within the unique model of the deal agreed final autumn. A International Workplace spokesperson stated:
This reporting is wrong.
The figures being quoted are totally inaccurate and deceptive.
There was no change to the phrases of extension within the treaty.
The UK will solely signal a deal that’s in our nationwide curiosity.
This will probably be of some use to Starmer if Badenoch raises the query at PMQs.
However what’s far more important is the information that some senior Labour figures are privately aghast on the deal. In a report for Bloomberg final night time, Alex Wickham stated that two cupboard ministers are in opposition to it. Wickham stated:
An individual acquainted with the views of 1 cupboard minister stated they didn’t perceive why the UK was agreeing to pay giant sums of cash to Mauritius at a time when the Treasury was telling UK authorities departments to organize for spending cuts.
A second individual acquainted with a distinct cupboard member’s views stated Starmer ought to cancel the deal. Each prompt Starmer was appearing on authorized recommendation from lawyer common Richard Hermer.
On the At this time programme this morning Henry Zeffman, the BBC’s chief political correspondent, stated he was listening to the identical factor. He stated:
Making calls on this story to contacts in authorities final night time, it turned clear to me that among the most senior folks in authorities are against this deal … Simply wanting by way of the phrases in my pocket book, “terrible”, “mad”, “impossible to understand” – these are the phrases I can use, at the least at the moment of day on air. However there are different phrases in my pocket book. And these are from very senior authorities sources.
Of their London Playbook briefing for Politico, Sam Blewett and Bethany Dawson say Labour backbenchers are sad too.
One MP who fears Nigel Farage’s outfit may very well be closing in on their marginal seat advised Playbook the treaty could be “Reform rocket fuel.” “How am I supposed to tell my constituents that we took away their winter fuel allowance to pay a foreign country to take our sovereign territory?” they messaged to say.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: David Lammy, the overseas secretary, is because of maintain a press convention in Kyiv along with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha.
Midday: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.
After 12.30pm: Angela Rayner, the deputy PM and housing secretary, is because of give a Commons assertion on which English councils are being allowed to delay elections to allow them to reorganise into unitary authorities.
If you wish to contact me, please submit a message beneath the road or message me on social media. I can’t learn all of the messages BTL, however should you put “Andrew” in a message geared toward me, I’m extra prone to see it as a result of I seek for posts containing that phrase.
If you wish to flag one thing up urgently, it’s best to make use of social media. You may attain me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X however particular person Guardian journalists are there, I nonetheless have my account, and should you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I’ll see it and reply if needed.
I discover it very useful when readers level out errors, even minor typos. No error is just too small to right. And I discover your questions very attention-grabbing too. I can’t promise to answer to all of them, however I’ll attempt to reply to as many as I can, both BTL or generally within the weblog.