In a treaty to “complete the process of decolonisation of Mauritius” the Government has agreed to pay at least £120 million-a-year for 99 years for control of the vital Diego Garcia military base, plus hand over £1.125 billion for economic development over a 25-year period.
Ministers argued that the deal needed to be done because the UK would have faced legal challenges “within weeks” which could have jeopardised the operation of the Indian Ocean base which is used by US and British forces.
The International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion in 2019, said the Chagos Archipelago should be handed over.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the total cost of the deal could mean “at least £30 billion of taxpayers’ money thrown away in a surrender tax”.
She said: “It speaks volumes about this shameful Prime Minister that he attacks me instead of owning up to another wrong-headed, wasteful and dangerous deal.”
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