Keir Starmer Grilled at Prime Minister’s Questions in Clash Over Chagos Islands Deal
In a fiery session at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, Labour leader Keir Starmer launched a scathing attack on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of being “not fit to be prime minister” as tensions flared over the UK’s handling of the Chagos Islands dispute.
The exchange, which escalated into a heated confrontation, centered around the controversial agreement that will see the UK cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The issue has been a point of contention for years, with critics accusing successive UK governments of failing to uphold their responsibilities towards the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s to make way for a U.S. military base.
Starmer wasted no time in bringing the issue to the forefront, accusing Prime Minister Badenoch of mishandling both the negotiations and the UK’s strategic interests. He claimed that Badenoch had not properly defended the UK’s position and that her actions amounted to an “immoral surrender” to Mauritius. “How can anyone believe that this government is acting in the best interests of the United Kingdom, let alone defending national security, when they hand over control of our sovereign territories like this?” Starmer demanded.
Badenoch, in turn, hit back with a fiery rebuttal, accusing Starmer of hypocrisy and failing to grasp the complexities of the issue. She argued that the Labour leader had failed to request a national security briefing on the matter, suggesting that he had not fully understood the security ramifications of the decision. “You have not done your homework on this issue,” Badenoch retorted, challenging Starmer’s ability to lead. “This is an issue of national security, and the UK’s interests have been carefully considered.”
The exchange quickly turned personal when Starmer accused Badenoch of being “not fit to be prime minister,” a sharp critique that left the Conservative leader visibly frustrated. He continued, “Your handling of the Chagos Islands deal proves that you are out of touch with the concerns of the British people. You are failing to defend our interests on the international stage.”
Badenoch, undeterred, stood her ground and defended the government’s position, asserting that the decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was in the long-term interest of the UK and its global relationships. “This is not about giving up on our sovereign rights; it is about acting responsibly on the world stage,” she argued. “We have maintained a strong presence in the Indian Ocean for decades, and we will continue to do so.”
The dispute over the Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, has been a point of international contention for years. The UK has maintained a military base on Diego Garcia, one of the islands, under an agreement with the United States. However, in recent years, the UN has called for the UK to cede control of the islands to Mauritius, as part of a broader international push to address the long-standing grievances of the Chagossian people, many of whom have sought the right to return to their homeland.
Prime Minister Badenoch’s government has faced mounting pressure both domestically and internationally over the issue. While the UK government has argued that the agreement with Mauritius represents a strategic move in strengthening relations with a key ally, critics claim that it represents a failure to protect British sovereignty and a betrayal of the Chagossian people, who were removed from their islands without compensation.
The Chagos Islands deal has also raised concerns about the future of the UK’s military presence in the region, particularly given the strategic importance of Diego Garcia to U.S. and UK defense operations. Despite the government’s reassurances, opposition MPs, including Starmer, have argued that the agreement could weaken the UK’s global standing and undermine its national security interests.
In his remarks, Starmer emphasized that the UK must carefully consider the long-term ramifications of ceding control of the islands. He expressed concerns that the government was failing to adequately consult with national security experts and that the decision could leave Britain vulnerable in a region that has become increasingly contested due to rising tensions between global powers like China and India.
As the exchange continued, it was clear that the issue of the Chagos Islands is set to remain a key battleground in the UK’s political landscape. With the Labour Party continuing to challenge the Conservative government’s handling of foreign policy and national security, the question of the islands’ sovereignty is likely to feature prominently in future debates.
In the end, while both leaders continued to defend their positions, the clash at PMQs highlighted a growing divide over how best to approach Britain’s role on the world stage, particularly regarding sensitive issues of territorial sovereignty and international diplomacy.
