Letter: Decision to give up Chagos Islands is self-sabotage
The UK government's decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is a disgraceful act of national self-sabotage.
It is, frankly, nothing more than woke virtue signalling dressed up as diplomacy.
The Chagos Islands were never part of an independent Mauritius, yet this government has chosen to ignore both historical fact and the voices of the Chagossian people, who were once again excluded from any meaningful consultation.
Even more insulting, we are paying Mauritius to take this vital strategic territory, and then paying again to rent it back.
Labour uses words like 'bought' or 'sold' to describe this arrangement - but what do you call it when you pay someone to take something valuable off you? That is what they've done.
This so-called deal could cost British taxpayers up to £30 billion over its lifetime - at a time when families are struggling, taxes are rising, and our armed forces are being stretched to their limits.
The government claims this is about 'righting a historic wrong,' yet all they have done is create a new wrong - ignoring the indigenous Chagossians, compromising UK security, and giving ground to a Chinese-aligned state in the Indian Ocean.
Let's be clear: this is a strategic asset of immense importance. particularly Diego Garcia, which is critical to both UK and US security. By transferring sovereignty to Mauritius, the UK opens the door to Chinese influence, which has been expanding across the Indo-Pacific.
This sets a dangerous precedent for other British Overseas Territories.
It sends a message that our sovereignty is negotiable, and our strategic interests expendable.
Starmer's government has not made Britain respected - they've made us a laughing stock.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
9 minutes ago
- The National
Edinburgh councillors vote in favour of arms firms using public parks for testing
Green councillor Ben Parker tabled the motion, which aimed at banning the practice following a public backlash last year over the arms firm Leonardo testing its equipment in the Braid Hills area of the capital. Leonardo, which employs around 1800 people at its site near Crewe Toll, was given a licence to test communications equipment in Braid Hills in December last year. On Thursday, Edinburgh councillors voted 5-6 against introducing the ban, with SNP and Greens voting in favour and Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Tories voting against it. READ MORE: 'Israel herding Palestinians into concentration camps,' says Gaza aid chief Cllr Parker said he was 'obviously disappointed' at the outcome but said his party will continue to stand up to companies who 'profit from war'. He said: 'Today, Councillors had a chance to stand up for peace and instead chose inaction. 'Despite community objections and a clear moral imperative, the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties have voted to continue to allow arms manufacturers to test their equipment in our beautiful, publicly owned, green spaces. 'I'm obviously disappointed in the decision made today, but Green Councillors will continue to push for Edinburgh to be a city which stands up for justice and doesn't bend to the whims of companies who profit from war.' In a written deputation submitted in advance of the committee meeting, the chair of the Friends of the Braid Hills Group, Elaine Le Geyt-Anderson, said it is 'unbearable' to watch the genocide unfold in Gaza by equipment manufactured in Edinburgh and tested on the Braid Hills. She said: 'As chair of Friends of the Braid Hills I have stated clearly to the council, as stakeholders, that we strongly oppose the use of Edinburgh green spaces, gifted to the people of Edinburgh, to be used in this way by a company which manufactures components which kill children and bomb hospitals. 'It is unbearable to watch news on our televisions, seeing children maimed and orphaned by equipment manufactured in Edinburgh and now tested on the Braid Hills.' She added: 'The new park management rules must reflect a clear decision never to give permission to any arms manufacturer for the testing of components or equipment on the Braid Hills or any other of Edinburgh's beautiful green spaces, which were gifted to the city for our enjoyment and wellbeing.' The City of Edinburgh Council has been approached for comment.
BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
Future of Vivergo Fuels plant 'hanging in the balance', says boss
Workers from the UK's largest bioethanol plant have visited Westminster to raise concerns the facility could close within days without government of Vivergo Fuels in Saltend, near Hull, said the plant's future was "hanging in the balance" after the removal of a 19% tariff on US ethanol imports, which was part of the recent UK-US trade firm said that without urgent action, the plant, which employs more than 160 people, would no longer be government said it was working closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the trade deal and it was open to discussions over potential support. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, about 35 workers made the trip to Hackett, managing director of Vivergo Fuels, said: "With the future of the Vivergo plant hanging in the balance, our workers felt compelled to speak directly to their MPs about what is at stake."This isn't just about one site. It's about protecting thousands of skilled jobs, supporting British farming and preserving a vital part of our green energy infrastructure."MP for Hull East Karl Turner said: "The fact that dozens of workers had to travel from East Yorkshire to Westminster today shows just how serious this situation is."Vivergo is not only a major employer in our region - it's a key player in our green economy and food security."The new mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, urged the government to "rethink" the trade deal with the US to protect British April, Associated British Foods (ABF) said it was in talks with the government to help save its Saltend plant after the company was forced to cut production levels due to low bioethanol Fuels produces bioethanol which is used in E10 petrol.E10, which was introduced in 2021 to help cut carbon emissions, contains up to 10% plant also produces animal feed, which is a by-product of the bioethanol production process. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Leader Live
24 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Gerry Adams to donate 100,000 euros to Irish language and Palestinian charities
Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. Last Friday a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 euros (£84,000) after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC will also have to pay Mr Adams's legal costs. During an eight-minute video posted on the official Sinn Fein YouTube channel, Mr Adams accused the BBC of showing 'arrogance' when it did not resolve the dispute after he issued legal letters nine years ago. In Putting Manners On The BBC – The Gerry Adams Blog, Mr Adams said that the BBC has been held accountable for the content it broadcasts. Mr Adams said: 'As for the money that the jury awarded me in damages, I will donate this to good causes. 'These will include the children of Gaza, groups in Ireland involved in helping the homeless, Cumann Carad, the Irish language sector and other projects like this in west Belfast.' He added: 'When the case began six weeks ago, the BBC's legal strategy was evident very quickly. Their narrative was that pursued by successive British and Irish governments for years. 'They blamed everything during the conflict on Irish Republicans and by extension, during this trial, on me. 'The BBC lawyers embarked on a Jesuitical presentation of the case that tried to convince the jurors that the words broadcast and published by the British Broadcasting Corporation, that I had sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson, did not, in fact, mean that I sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson. 'They were, they said, that's the British Broadcasting Corporation, not defending the truth of the accusation. 'Instead they were defending, they claimed, their journalism, which they said was fair and reasonable, in the public interest and made in good faith. 'They concluded their case by trying to exert moral pressure on the jurors by claiming that a defeat for the British Broadcasting Corporation would be a blow to freedom of speech and a setback to victims. 'In the end the jury didn't buy in to any of this. 'On all the key issues the jurors unanimously accepted that the script used by the Spotlight programme did mean that I had sanctioned and approved the murder of Denis Donaldson.' He said that after the BBC's decision to air the Spotlight programme, he decided to sue the broadcaster. Mr Adams said the BBC could have resolved the dispute there and then. 'They chose not to. Why? That's a question to be asked. Why did they not resolve this issue when they could have? 'Was it arrogance? Yes, that's part of it. But I also suspect political interference. 'In January, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded to a decision in the High Court in Belfast, which included that I and, by implication, up to 400 other former internees, were wrongfully detained and that we were entitled to compensation. 'Mr Starmer told the British Parliament that he would look at every conceivable way to block compensation being paid.' Mr Adams also urged the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to met Denis Donaldson's family. He signed off by saying 'slan agus tog go bog e', which means goodbye and take it easy. Earlier this week the BBC was granted time to consider appealing against the jury's decision. The broadcaster was granted a stay on paying the full costs and damages to allow it time to consider whether to lodge an appeal. The stay was subject to paying half the damages (50,000 euros or £42,000) and 250,000 euros (£210,000) towards solicitors' fees.
