Labour admits it's still 'determined' to give away Chagos Islands even after Donald Trump shut down 'very woke' handover

Labour has admitted it's still "determined" to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius despite Donald Trump shutting down the "very woke" handover.

The "surrender" deal appeared to be dead and buried in April after the US President pulled American support for the agreement, branding it an "act of total weakness".

However, fears are mounting that the deal may be resurrected after Attorney General Lord Hermer told MPs he is hopeful it could be signed "in the coming weeks and months".

But it remains unclear what Sir Keir Starmer's looming exit from Downing Street will mean for the giveaway - and whether his successor may drop it entirely.

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Under Sir Keir's original arrangement, Britain would have handed over the territory - then paid around £35billion over a 99-year period to lease back the joint military base.

The Attorney General told the Commons' Justice Select Committee: "The Chagos treaty and agreement is overwhelmingly in our national interest.

"The negotiations that we picked up from the last Conservative Government, which were very developed negotiations, were started and we continued with them because of our national security analysis as to the importance of the base of Diego Garcia.

"That is what it was about, that is what it has remained about.

"I very much hope that in the coming weeks and months we're able to sign the treaty - again because it's in the national interest of this country to do so, because of our national security concerns and the importance of the base in that part of the world."

Lord Hermer acknowledged there had "been a change of position" from the Trump administration, but insisted "We remain determined to try and get it done".

The Attorney General's remarks come as a stark contrast to those of Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty, who admitted in April that the withdrawal of US support made the deal "impossible to agree".

His latest comments to MPs have drawn sharp criticism from critics of the "surrender" agreement.

THE CHAGOS 'SURRENDER' DEAL - READ MORE:

• 'Chagos is NOT for sale!' Donald Trump handed direct warning amid plans to 'buy' territory
• Donald Trump considers BUYING Chagos Islands in effort to crush Keir Starmer's surrender
• Labour hands Mauritius MORE taxpayer cash after signing £35billion Chagos surrender deal

Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: "Keir Starmer and Richard Hermer’s Chagos surrender deal should be consigned to the ash heap of history.

"Hard-pressed British taxpayers have no desire to hand over £35billion of their cash for this nonsense, especially when it threatens our national security.

"Andy Burnham, or whoever becomes the next PM, must rule out pursuing this appalling deal.

"The Conservatives will keep fighting against it for as long as it takes."

Meanwhile, Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: “Labour’s determination to push through this surrender deal shows exactly where the party’s priorities lie – handing billions to a foreign country while British pensioners, farmers and businesses have paid the price.

“Even in his final days, Lord Hermer is working to subvert our national interest.

"Soon, he can go back to representing Britain’s enemies openly as a lawyer. Good riddance to him – he won’t be missed.”

A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said: "The Attorney General was reflecting on the Government's longstanding position, which is that the Government remains committed to the agreement with Mauritius as the best way to safeguard the long-term future of the base, and continues to work closely with the US and Mauritius on next steps.

"The Government will bring the Bill back to Parliament to be ratified as soon as is practicable and for now we to continue to operate as normal."

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