DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Chagos surrender is a risk to security

Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy are no doubt congratulating themselves today on having righted a deep colonial injustice involving the Chagos Islands.

In fact, by handing sovereignty of this British territory to Mauritius, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have made the world, including this country, considerably less safe.

Geographically, this tiny tropical atoll in the Indian Ocean could hardly be more remote. Strategically, however, it is of supreme importance. Since the early 1970s, the largest island – Diego Garcia – has been the site of a vital UK/US military base.

It was used for allied air operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, supplies troops stationed in the Middle East and beyond, and has all kinds of crucial kit – from telecommunications to Space Command.

The islands have belonged to Britain since 1814, and never to Mauritius – 1,300 miles away. Not exactly a near neighbour.

 However, after an anti-colonialist campaign led by Mauritius – supported by the UN – the Government has agreed to cede control. This deal is both deeply regrettable and breathtakingly bad.

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BREAKING NEWS
Britain to hand over sovereignty of disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius in historic deal

Yes, we have been granted jurisdiction over Diego Garcia for another 99 years. But who is to say the deal will be honoured?

Mauritius is an ally of an expansionist China, which can be expected to pressure its government to renege long before the lease is up. And with Mauritius now running all the other islands in the archipelago, you can bet a pot of Chinese aid money that they will suddenly be of great interest to Beijing’s military and spies. Behind closed doors, the US must be fuming.

This is also a slippery slope to other nations demanding we give up overseas territories. How long before we start negotiating with Argentina over the Falklands?

During the election, Sir Keir promised he could be trusted to safeguard the nation. By surrendering Chagos, he is sacrificing Britain’s strategic assets on the Leftist altar of misplaced colonial guilt.

Just as the world gets more dangerous, Labour risks making us weaker. This is an unforgivable betrayal of our security, self-interest and sovereignty.

PM’s weasel words

The Middle East is another crucible where Sir Keir seems more driven by cynical political calculation than national interest.

After Iran bombarded Israel with missiles this week, the PM professed rock-solid support for Tel Aviv. Yet those words were jarringly at odds with the Government’s half-hearted stance towards our major ally.

First, Labour reinstated taxpayer funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency whose staff took part in the October 7 atrocities.

Then, it acquiesced in efforts to have an international arrest warrant issued against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Lastly, it withheld military supplies to Israel – hindering the Jewish State’s ability to defend itself against its Islamist enemies.

Sir Keir has acted cynically to placate Labour’s anti-Israel brigade. But, if he truly wanted to do what was best for Britain, he would pull out all the stops to help the Middle East’s only democracy in its fight for freedom and survival.

The Office for National Statistics was once respected for soberly analysing the important data relating to the economy and society. 

Today, it seems to have transformed into a hotbed of Leftist activism. Staff have voted to strike after being told to return to the office for a mere two days a week. 

Here’s a statistic for you: Is the ONS becoming a joke? 100 per cent.