No 10 refuses to rule out defence spending increase could go towards Chagos deal
Wednesday, 26 February 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of failing to guarantee the recently announced uplift in defence spending will not be spent on the contentious Chagos Islands deal.
Shadow Paymaster General Richard Holden says there are “still big questions” to be answered over the government’s defence spending commitments, citing the possibility of the extra money going to “Mauritius to lease back the Chagos Islands”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at...
Sir Keir Starmer says a stabilised economy has allowed the government to reinstate most winter fuel payments. Nine million pensioners in England and Wales will now receive support this winter after a £1.25bn U-turn. The Prime Minister denied the move was a response to backlash, insisting it followed a reassessment of the country’s financial position. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Government has pledged £5 million for a renovation project in memory of the three young girls murdered in Southport. Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner met the parents of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King in Downing Street on Tuesday. The Town Hall gardens in Southport will be renovated in their memory, a project the families have said is “rooted in love, resilience and unity”. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer promised there would be no more “dithering” about backing nuclear power as the Government committed to the Sizewell C plant. The prime minister said the “change of mindset” would help free the UK from reliance on international fossil fuel markets and prevent price spikes such as those in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Speaking at a college in Ipswich, Sir Keir said: “No more dithering, no more delay, no more being unclear about what we’re going to do, a real statement of intent as we go forward.” Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Kemi Badenoch welcomed the winter fuel payment U-turn, insisting it should have happened sooner. Speaking on Monday, the Conservative party leader said: "I'm glad the government has finally done this but what took them so long? I asked Keir Starmer six times at the despatch box at PMQ's why he was doing this and that he needed to reverse it."
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte to Downing Street on Monday as pressure continues to mount on the Prime Minister to hike defence spending. The visit comes after Mr Rutte's visit to Yorkshire earlier in the day with Defence Secretary John Healey. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Chagos Islands deal is “good value”, the armed forces minister has said, rejecting claims that the government’s estimation of the overall cost was misleading. Officials said the deal amounted to £3.4 billion and was comparable to what allies paid for leasing bases in the region. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
A Conservative MP has slammed the government’s decision to sign over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as the "worst deal on earth". Shadow policing minister Matt Vickers said the deal is a "disaster for Britain" which will cost the taxpayer £101m per year.
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
UK hands sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius after last-minute legal delay
Under the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius €120 million each year to lease back their military base for at least 99 years.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/22/uk-hands-sovereignty-of-chagos-islands-to-mauritius-after-last-minute-legal-delay
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Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:10Published
Sir Keir Starmer confirms he has signed an agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that will cost £101 million per year. Speaking from the UK's military headquarters, the prime minister says the base is "one of the most significant contributions that we make to our security relationship with the United States". Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claims the Chagos Islands deal was an example of "Labour chaos", saying, "we should not be paying to surrender British territory to Mauritius”. Report by Blairm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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