Philippe Sands – Starmer’s close friend who has acted for Mauritius on the Chagos case for many years – has today said that the deal proposes no risk of Chinese expansion because Mauritius won’t do anything without India’s permission. Sands claimed the deal was “a win-win for everyone.” Not least himself seeing as he was paid out of a pot of over £8 million…
Sands falsely claimed to an obsequious James O’Brien on LBC that the Chagos archipelago is “now part of the sovereignty of Mauritius.” He also said the fate of the islands is up to India now:
“I mean, if the International Court of Justice had given its ruling and it hadn’t been followed, then there would have just been uncertainty and insecurity and a lack of stability. And that is the kind of vacuum into which others insert themselves. But the reality is, if you’ve been to Mauritius, it’s a country whose closest, you know, colleague is India. It doesn’t do anything without India giving the get-go, and saying yes, you can do that. India’s been deeply involved in these negotiations, and there’s no way India is going to allow Mauritius to give any of its islands, and it’s got plenty to give away if it wanted to, to China. So the Chinese thing, frankly, is a bit of a red herring.”
At least Sands is reassured…
In other news Sands was recently disqualified as an arbitrator from hearing a Cypriot-owned oil company’s claim against Turkmenistan due to a conflict of interest. Embarrassing…
Announced late yesterday by the University of Cambridge:
“Eight distinguished individuals have been nominated for honorary degrees at the University of Cambridge. This year’s nominations recognise outstanding achievements in the fields of law, politics, science, the arts and music.”
One of them is Angela Merkel. Another:
“The barrister, academic and writer, Professor Philippe Sands, is also proposed for a Doctorate in Law. He has extensive experience in international, environmental, criminal and maritime law as an advocate in the International Courts. An alumnus of Corpus Christi College and former Fellow of St Catharine’s College and Visiting Fellow at Jesus College, he is Professor of Law and Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London.”
If you needed any more reminders that selling out your country is constantly rewarded in legacy Britain. Is he going to have dinner with his friend Keir to celebrate?
Starmer’s mate and surrender deal architect Philippe Sands was confronted in Parliament by a Chagossian. Save Chagos…
Mauritius Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam has been in the United Kingdom on deliberately hushed-up visit which will include meetings with lawyers working on the Chagos giveaway. Sources tell Guido there are no official FCDO meetings in the schedule, and he will not meet Starmer, unusually for a head of government…
A report by local radio station Top FM corroborates: “On Friday, the Cabinet noted that Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam will make a private visit to the United Kingdom… The head of government will visit his doctors for an annual health check-up, which had been postponed for ten years. During his stay in London, the Prime Minister will also meet with international lawyers who are advising the government on the Chagos Archipelago case.”
That could well mean a meeting with Philippe Sands – Starmer’s close friend – who has acted for Mauritius on the Chagos file for many years. Sands claimed he had not spoken to Starmer about the issue when it was on the PM’s desk, despite working closely on it…
With the deal now signed (but not yet fully through parliament), the purpose of any meetings with Ramgoolam is unclear. Sources close to the process did not deny that Mauritius sees Starmer as a soft touch and could be coming back for yet more cash…
Absent of any actual legal defence from Labour for Starmer’s decision to recognise Palestine his close friend Philippe Sands KC has offered his support for the move. Sands said in the Guardian:
“I have no doubt whatsoever that if it were asked, the ICJ would reject the argument that it is somehow unlawful to recognise the existence of Palestinian statehood. Palestine meets all the legal criteria of statehood; all that remains is a political consideration, namely whether to recognise or not that those criteria are met. The court’s language makes clear that that right exists now, and it exists because all the criteria for statehood are met.”
That has raised some eyebrows. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum – a barrister who is former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and current special envoy for innovation for the Israeli Foreign Office – tells Guido:
“Philippe Sands’ contention that the Palestinians meet all the criteria for statehood is fundamentally flawed. He’s conveniently overlooking some pretty significant legal criteria such as recognised borders – which do not exist – and a legitimate leadership that represents its people. Does he or the Labour Government seriously want to recognise a UK proscribed terrorist group as the legitimate leaders or even Mahmoud Abbas, the PA President who hasn’t held elections in 20 years?”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel also tells Guido:
“Starmer’s spineless pandering to his backbenchers has created a serious international mess with his incoherent statement on recognition of a Palestinian state. While hostages are still being held in terrorist captivity and Hamas continue their murderous acts, Starmer is once again turning to his old pal Philippe Sands – a key player in the surrender of the Chagos Islands – to try and give him legal cover for his betrayal of Israel and his defence of Hamas.”
The White House criticised the UK by name for Starmer’s decision last night. 38 peers have also put pressure on attorney general Richard Hermer to clarify that the Montevideo Convention conditions for statehood are not reached currently by Palestine. Many legal minds think the matter has nothing to do with what the ICJ may have said in the past…
Keir Starmer’s close friend and Mauritius’s chief legal adviser Philippe Sands was in the Lords yesterday giving evidence to the International Relations and Defence Committee to promote the Chagos surrender deal as “enhancing Britain’s position in the world.” He does have a client…
When questioned about concerns that Mauritius, which has close ties to China, might allow Beijing access to Diego Garcia, Sands urged the committee not to worry because it has plenty of other islands it could give them:
“The idea that this deal will make Diego Garcia available to a hostile third state – at least as things stand now – seems really to be in the realms of speculation. The idea that Mauritius could give these islands to China – Mauritius has many other islands it could give to China.”
Sands also rejected claims that Chagossians – who wanted the islands to remain British – had been excluded from the process:
“I can tell you that Chagossians in Mauritius and Seychelles were deeply involved in consulting with successive prime ministers of Mauritius and they attended the hearings at the International Court of Justice. I want to really knock on the head this idea that all of the Chagossians were not involved in the various processes. That is simply not true.”
That version of events has been strongly disputed by UK-based Chagossians – and contradicted by UN ‘experts’ just this week. All while Mauritius is using UK taxpayer cash from the agreement to fund domestic tax cuts. Cost of this sellout: £30.3 billion…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”