It’s not just Rayner who’s been busy upgrading her ministerial offices after getting into government. David Lammy’s been splashing the paint and the cash over at the FCDO…
Guido can reveal that since the election the FCDO has shelled out £9,614.27 of taxpayer cash just to redecorate and repaint ministerial offices. The FCDO justifies itself by claiming “it would be incorrect to suggest ministerial requirement determined works” because redecorating the rooms Lammy and his ministers use is “for the wider benefit of the environment and space users generally.” If the Minister’s happy, you’re happy…
The Foreign Office has splurged on its own furniture too since 5th July – to the tune of £20,939.71. Civil servants have been picking up new ergonomic chairs for £361.5 each. They must have been comfortable signing away the Chagos Islands…
Left-wing commentators continue to bask in the glory of Starmer and Lammy handing away the British Indian Ocean Territory. The Guardian sneers that “Suddenly, All MPs Know Where the Chagos Islands Are and What’s Best for Them”…
While Lammy prepares to head to China next week for ‘reset’ talks no doubt made chummier by the handover, environmental campaigners are aghast at the UK’s decision. Most people aren’t aware of how important the Chagos Islands are for the environment:
After years of campaigning, scientists managed to have the British government institute a protected zone of 250,000 square miles in which no fishing would be permitted. The Mauritian government has been trying for many years to destroy the UK’s progress in protecting Chagos biodiversity. In the last decade it has launched numerous legal challenges in international courts to have the protected area removed. The Mauritians were counselled by – you guessed it – Mauritius’ chief legal adviser Philippe Sands KC. Starmer’s close mate…
Mauritius, which does not care about the environment, now has control over Chagos and has announced its intention to settle Mauritians – not Chagossians – on the isolated islands. Meanwhile, over half of Mauritian lagoons are now dead and octopus and reef fish numbers have dropped by 75% in the last few decades. The Mauritians will doubtless be rubbing their hands with glee now they can go plundering Chagos too…
A spokesman from the Friends of the British Overseas Territories charity tells Guido:
“What makes the Chagos Islands so unique and important is the complete absence of economic activity and limited human presence. Any change to this would have disastrous effects on the environment. The UK Government were elected just months ago on a manifesto which had no mention of handing over British territory, but did commit to ‘deliver for nature’. Sadly, the Government now seem eager to give away the largest jewel in the UK’s environmental crown, to a country which clearly cannot be trusted to take care of it.”
Dark days for Gaia…
It’s been confirmed today that David Lammy is now set to visit China next week. Earlier than anticipated…
Labour says the point is to “overhaul Britain’s ties with China” and seek “less confrontational ties with the world’s second-largest economy and to resume trade and investment talks.” Was handing over Chagos to China’s ally Mauritius a first step to chummier ties?
Meanwhile Reeves is set to revive the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue talks in January. China says it is looking forward to meeting Lammy “on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation.” They’ll be in a good mood with him…
Questions over Lammy’s Chagos statement are raging on in the Commons. Tom Tugendhat has ripped into the Foreign Secretary, and Jenrick has been on the offensive too:
“We’ve just handed sovereign British territory to a small island nation which is an ally of China and we are paying for the privilege, all so that the Foreign Secretary can feel good about himself at his next North London dinner party. Whose interests does he think he serves: those of the global diplomatic elite or those of the British people and our national interest?”
Lammy naturally dodged in response. No word from Kemi so far. Cleverly left the Chamber before the statement…
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle slammed the government for pushing through the decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius during recess. Instead, Starmer and Lammy could hide from questioning whilst the announcement was made. Hoyle said:
“It is frustrating for members on both sides of the house where major planned announcements are scheduled during periods when the house is not sitting particularly towards the end of recess… members [should] have had the first opportunity to question the Secretary on it rather than learning about it through the media. Ministers should come to the House to announce their policies in the first instance.”
Guido agrees…
Foreign Secretary David Lammy is speaking in the Commons to try to defend the government’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to China-aligned Mauritius. Prepare for some heckles from the Tory benches…
