Prioritise cash for UK military over Mauritian demands on Chagos, say Tories
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Ministers have been urged to prioritise funding the UK’s military over giving more money to Mauritius to resolve the future of the Chagos Islands. The Conservatives raised concerns over reports that Mauritius wants £800 million a year in return for taking over control of the archipelago while allowing a joint US-UK military base to remain on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.
The UK Government has argued that a deal to hand over the islands, known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, is necessary following an International Court of Justice ruling. But the proposed agreement, which includes the UK paying an annual sum of money, was struck before elections in both Mauritius and the United States and has run into trouble since the results of those contests.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the agreement represented “terrible value for money for the over-taxed British public”, adding that cash should not be spent on “leasing back a military base that we currently own”. Defence Secretary John Healey said he regretted “Conservative carping” over the deal and said it seemed to be supported by “almost everyone” apart from the Opposition.
Speaking during defence questions, Mr Cartlidge told the House of Commons: “At every turn, ministers have refused point-blank to tell us how much their Chagos deal is going to cost British taxpayers. “Well, now we know why – because the Mauritians want £800 million a year.
