Chagos deal has been paused, but it should be abandoned
The UK government's agreement to grant Mauritius sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, commonly known as the Chagos Islands, is 'ready to be signed' but has been put on hold. The problem is not a last minute crisis of confidence in the wisdom of the deal, justified as that would be. Nor is it blocked by the US on security grounds, which would also be understandable.
No, the delay is because of ministerial fears that if the details of the Chagos financial settlement were published, it could lead to a 'toxic' political backlash just as Labour MPs are being asked to vote on reforms due to cut £5 billion from the UK welfare bill. If Labour MPs did find such a juxtaposition infuriating, they
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