Badenoch says Trump 'laughing' over island deal

DONALD Trump is "laughing" at Sir Keir Starmer handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, according to Kemi Badenoch.

- By Martyn Brown

She said the US president had "got a great deal at the expense of the UK" because Britain will meet the cost of the lease to maintain control of the vital Diego Garcia military base.

The US will continue to cover operating costs.

Sir Keir claimed it will cost £101million annually, amounting to £3.4billion over 99 years.

But the real bill could exceed £30billion because of rising inflation and additional schemes to fund development in Mauritius, claim critics.

Tory leader Ms Badenoch labelled the deal "wasteful" and "dangerous" and said it had "not been done in our national interests". She told the BBC: "Our country is getting poorer and weaker because of the decisions Labour is making.