Fears Andy Burnham will push ahead with Chagos deal – ‘as weak as Keir Starmer!’ | Politics | News
Andy Burnham has been accused of being as “weak” as Sir Keir Starmer following reports he will support the Chagos deal. A plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and then pay to lease back a joint UK-US military base has been stalled following criticism from Donald Trump.
But future prime minister Mr Burnham is said to be trying to revive the controversial deal. Sources told the Guido Fawkes website that he was heavily influenced by national security adviser Jonathan Powell, who had previously referred to the archipelago as “very small islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean that no one goes to.”
Tory Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “It is surprising that Andy Burnham wants to revive Labour’s shameful Chagos capitulation.
“Not only does this deal threaten our national security, it will cost British taxpayers £35bn.
“Labour may be changing leaders, but they remain a soft touch on the global stage, desperate to appease China.
“Burnham should leave this terrible deal where it belongs: on the ash heap of history. Conservatives will continue to fight against it for as long as it takes.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp added: “Andy Burnham is set to be as weak as Keir Starmer.”
Richard Tice of Reform UK said: “That’s why Burnham plans to pay £50bn to give away our vital strategic Chagos assets. So no change for the failures of Starmergeddon.”
The deal will see the UK cede the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius but pay to lease back the key Diego Garcia military base.
But it was paused indefinitely following criticism from Mr Trump, who called it “an act of gross stupidity”.
The government has insisted the agreement is necessary to guarantee the future of the military base after an international court ruling in 2019 backed Mauritius’ claims to the archipelago’s sovereignty.
But critics have warned that the deal could benefit China due to its eye-watering cost and Beijing’s close ties to Mauritius.
Mr Burnham’s team has been contacted for comment.
