Furious Tories have accused Sir Keir Stamer of keeping British taxpayers “in the dark” by refusing to reveal how much he plans to pay Mauritius in a deal over the Chagos Islands.
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Richard Holden said the Prime Minister was treating voters like children and claimed there were “splits and divisions” within Labour over the plan to give the islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, even though they are home to a strategically vital UK-US military base.
Under the Government’s plans, the UK will lease back the base for 99 years at a potential cost of up to £90 million per year – but Downing Street has refused to confirm how much will be paid or whether the money will come out of defence spending.
Mr Holden said: “They are not being transparent with the UK public over costings. The Government really needs to be upfront about these important issues.”
Speaking on Sky News, he complained that the Government of Mauritus had revealed more details about the deal than the Prime Minister.
“How can we have negotiations with one side broadcasting it on the international media, and on the other side we are just told to be good little boys and keep quiet and wait in the dark?”
He insisted: “This is British territory … the government should be coming forwards over these issues.”
Meanwhile Science Secretary Peter Kyle insisted there would be no u-turn over the planned deal – but also hinted that US President Donald Trump could block it.
It would be “very, very odd” if the UK acted “unilaterally” when it comes to the deal over the Chagos Islands, he said.
Asked whether Donald Trump was in control of UK foreign policy after David Lammy said the deal would not go ahead without the backing of the US President, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The Chagos Islands have always been a military base for the UK and the US.”
He told Times Radio: “Of course, it is absolutely essential in that particular instance that we partner very closely, and we engage very, very closely with the United States.”
He added: “The security relationship and the intelligence relationship between the US and the UK is a crucial part of our special relationship.
“It would be very, very odd if we acted unilaterally when it has actually always been a bilateral arrangement which has been pivoted into the Chagos Islands.”
