There’s been a notable change of tone in Port Louis since the eruption of the Iran conflict. Mauritian commentators are starting to admit Starmer’s Chagos deal is fully dead…
According to media outlet DeFi: “While the process was progressing very well, with the adoption of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill by the British Parliament – which would allow Mauritius to fully exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago while leasing Diego Garcia for 99 years – the bill’s future, which was in its final stages, is now uncertain.” That’s for sure…
Mauritius Prime Minister Ramgoolam is quoted about the budgetary impacts – another admission the deal is dead: “We will have to find Rs 10 billion. We are exploring all possible avenues, but clearly the 2026-27 Budget will not be an easy one”. Had the UK Parliament ratified the Treaty, Mauritius would have received an initial annual payment of approximately £165 million from British taxpayers…
Is the save Chagos campaign the best cost saving for British working families of all time? It must be close…
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced her speech on migration reforms at the IPPR:
“There’s no denying we meet at a difficult time for my party.”