Right-wing plotters worked to scupper the Chagos deal

Frantic cross-Atlantic discussions have taken place over the past week between right-wing Tory and Reform politicians and Donald Trump’s team to try to ensure that Sir Keir Starmer did not complete a deal with the Chagos Islands before the US president-elect’s inauguration next Monday.

- DAVID MADDOX

With Mr Trump seeking to block or even veto the deal to hand over the British Indian Ocean colony to Mauritius, the hope had been that Sir Keir would be prevented from landing an agreement before the new president is sworn into office.

The revelation came as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch branded the agreement “a dumb deal” at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, asking: “Why does the prime minister think the British people should pay for something they already own?”

Sir Keir said: “We inherited the situation where the long-term operation of a vital military base was under threat because of legal challenges.” He pointed out that negotiations began under the last Tory government, adding that his deal had provided for “effective continued operation of the base”.

But despite the British government having the blessing of the current US president Joe Biden, it was reported late on Tuesday that it had conceded defeat in its attempt to accelerate an agreement, and had decided to wait for the new administration to be installed in the White House.