Gareth Davies MP has spoken out against Labour's decision to surrender the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, saying:
"Keir Starmer is surrendering British territory in the Indian Ocean and making the British taxpayer pay for the privilege.
Labour cannot explain why they’re giving away our islands to Mauritius, an ally of China who is cooperating with Russia.
The previous Conservative Government paused all talks with Mauritius as soon as Mauritius demanded sovereignty of these islands. This never had to happen and we will vote against this deal in Parliament every single step of the way.
For months, Labour Ministers and advisors have failed to answer questions on the details of this deal and they have refused to outline the cost.
Now we know the British taxpayer will have to pay over £100 million each and every year for the duration of the 99-year lease. That’s a total of £30bn in cash terms - equivalent to around half of our annual defence budget.
We should be on guard. Labour’s contempt for British interests knows no bounds and this surrender deal will worry many of our overseas territories like the Falklands and Gibraltar that they might be next.
This is nothing short of a national disgrace. Under Labour, Britain is poorer, smaller, and less secure.
When Labour negotiates, Britain loses."
