Lack of plan to protect base on Diego Garcia branded unacceptable by Tories
The Government's new deal which would see the UK transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has no provision for the defence of a critical military base, two senior Conservatives have argued.
The deal maintains the strategic value of Diego Garcia as a military outpost, while formally recognising Mauritian sovereignty over the Islands.
But in a letter to the Prime Minister, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said it was "entirely unacceptable that we do not have clear answers" about how the base would be protected.
"Despite repeated questioning, your ministers are unable to say whether the UK would have a unilateral right to extend the proposed lease on the military base," they said.
"No detail has been published about what safeguards will be in place to prevent other countries, including China, establishing themselves in the archipelago.
"We are also seeking complete and unequivocal confirmation that the deal will in no way compromise UK and US military autonomy on Diego Garcia."
Their letter also said the UK would be making annual payments to Mauritius under the new agreement, but "ministers refuse to say how much the British taxpayer will be liable for".
"We also do not know what this money will pay for, or which Government budget it will come from," the letter said.
"If it is the defence budget, we must know which defence programmes might have to be cut to make room for these payments – and whether this will cut across the Strategic Defence Review."
The Conservative MPs also accused the Government, and specifically Foreign Secretary David Lammy, of failing to properly consult the Chagossian people.
They said it was "now very clear that the Foreign Secretary was determined to rush into a deal".
"The shadow foreign secretary [Dame Priti] has met Chagossian spokespeople personally," the letter said.
"Their feedback will come as no surprise. They feel they have been ignored and many are deeply offended and disappointed by this deal."
The Tory pair also used the incoming Trump administration as an attempt to solidify their point, saying a number of "key figures… have expressed concern".
"The new Mauritian government, after launching a review of the proposed deal, has said it is not good enough," the letter said.
"The framework announced in the Joint Statement on 3 October is crumbling.
"If the Government has any inclination to try and salvage this deal by rushing it through Parliament before the new US administration takes office, it should think again.
"At a very minimum you should wait for the new administration in the US to take office.
"But our view remains that the legal justification you have used for giving away sovereignty is flawed, and it is therefore no surprise that the terms reached are so disadvantageous to the United Kingdom."
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