Since the FCDO yesterday issued an update contrary to widespread UK media speculation that a deal was not completed yet, reports now say the game is on to get the deal done before Trump’s inauguration. There is no update today from the Downing Street Lobby briefing…
Europe and North America minister Stephen Doughty has been dodging questions in the Commons this morning as to why Labour is in such a rush to get the surrender across the line before Trump has a chance to have his say. Eventually Desmond Swayne got under his skin by asking why the government is “acting with such dispatch” to sign on the dotted line:
“There is no rush. The last, the last, the last, Mr Speaker, it’s a fact, it’s a fact, to see it’s, it is a fact Mr Speaker the negotiations on this were going on for two years under his previous government. Ten rounds of failed negotiations. We’ve secured a deal that is in all of our interest and one that secures our base and our national security interests and those of our allies on Diego Garcia.“
As usual no details on the concessions and payments currently under discussion between the Mauritians and UK officials. Not much time left before 20 January – this will go down to the wire…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”