Keir Starmer BANNED from giving away ‘£9bn’ Chagos payout as deal talks halted by High Court.uk
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A High Court judge has blocked Labour from concluding its negotiations on the Chagos Islands.
Sir Keir Starmer had planned to give the islands – which are home to the strategically important US military base on Diego Garcia – to the Mauritian Government.
But campaigners used human rights laws to warn that the Chagossian people had not been properly considered.
The legal action claimed that the government failed in its legal duties to consult properly, act fairly, and consider the profound consequences for the Chagossian people.
It also references admissions made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in earlier legal correspondence, in which he stated he is “binding his own hands” and has refused to negotiate in the interests of Chagossians, campaigners claimed.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had been expected to attend a virtual ceremony alongside representatives from the Mauritian government on Thursday morning to sign off on the deal.
Britain would give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius under the deal, and lease back a crucial military base on the archipelago for 99 years.
Critics fear China could exploit its relationship with Mauritius to pressure them over the strategically important US military base on Diego Garcia.
They said the facility – which American forces use to support campaigns in the Middle East – is “essential” to countering Beijing in the Indo-Pacific.
In the injunction granted at 2.25am on Thursday, brought against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Mr Justice Goose granted “interim relief” to Bertrice Pompe, who had previously taken steps to bring legal action over the deal.
Mr Justice Goose said in his order: “The defendant shall take no conclusive or legally binding step to conclude its negotiations concerning the possible transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Archipelago, to a foreign government or bind itself as to the particular terms of any such transfer.
Mr Justice Goose’s order continued: “The defendant shall in particular not dispose of the territory in whole or in part.
“The defendant is to maintain the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom over the British Indian Ocean Territory until further order.”
According to the order, the judge granted the injunction “upon consideration of the claimant’s application for interim relief made out of court hours” and “upon reading the defendants’ response”.
A hearing is now expected to take place on Thursday morning at 1030.
Senior Tory Robert Jenrick said the Chagos deal is a “bad deal” after a court injunction blocked it from being signed.
The shadow justice secretary told Sky News: “It’s a sell-out for British interests.
“You’re seeing British sovereign territory being given away to an ally of China, and billions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money being spent for the privilege.
“This was always a bad deal.
“Keir Starmer did it because of his view of international law, where he wanted to put a non-binding judgment by a foreign court above the interests, the core security interests of the British people.
“And so if this group can force the Government to think twice, then all power to them.”
Asked if he thought it was right for a High Court judge to get involved, Mr Jenrick said: “Well, I don’t know the arguments that have been presented to the court, so we’ll see later today.”
Experts have warned Chinese intelligence agencies could exploit Beijing’s relationship with the Mauritians to use the surrounding islands to monitor the base and British and American assets.
The Government said the Chagos Islands deal is the “right thing” for the UK after a court injunction temporarily blocked the agreement from being concluded.
A Government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on ongoing legal cases. This deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.”
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
Most Popular Comments
1st Most liked comment • 39 minutes ago28
“The expectation is that this will go all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court advised a while back that this government had no …”
2nd Most liked comment • 42 minutes ago25
“Signing away our sovereignty to Brussels is not within his mandate either.”
3rd Most liked comment • 41 minutes ago22
“Thank god. Starmer is out of control. “