The government is scrambling to justify its deeply unpopular Chagos surrender deal as Starmer touches down in DC, insisting the agreement must go ahead to safeguard UK-US military operations on Diego Garcia. In the Commons last night, FCDO minister Anneliese Dodds dutifully claimed the deal is necessary to maintain access to critical satellite communications:
“Without a negotiated solution with Mauritius, it would pursue its legal campaign. We would unfortunately see international organisations following that determination, such as the International Telecommunication Union, [which] could be that critical spectrum for telecommunications that is essential for our security is compromised.”
The problem? This directly contradicts the government’s own official position. In response to a written question, DSIT minister Chris Bryant confirmed that the International Telecommunication Union has no power to veto military spectrum and cannot interfere with satellites. Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois tells Guido:
“Last night saw a very lively, opposition inspired debate in the Commons on the Government’s surrender deal, during which Ministers repeatedly refused to say either what the deal would cost or whether the new increase in defence spending would be used to pay for it. The Government’s case for the deal keeps constantly shifting and now the FCDO are completely at odds with DCMS over whether there is a legal threat to satellite communications from the base, via the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This Chagos chaos cannot continue. Let’s hope Trump puts Starmer out of his misery on this – in which case the extra money announced for Defence could actually be spent on Defence, instead of being given to Mauritius.
Labour’s justification for the sellout doesn’t add up…
Kemi Badenoch at the 1922-ConHome bash last night:
“I did praise [Burnham] for his stamina, it was amazing. All I had to do was sit back and lie there. I didn’t have to do anything at all…”