The Foreign Secretary said he still believed the agreement to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius was the “best deal” which could be struck, but that the US had to be on board with it.
“The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal.”
It also comes after Sir Keir faced questions about whether cash to pay Mauritius for leasing back a military base, rumoured to cost £9bn, would come out of the increase in defence spending he announced.
Speaking from the US, Lammy said the UK’s military and intelligence was “very intertwined with the United States”, adding: “We struck a deal. After striking that deal, there was a change of government in Mauritius, and the new government in Mauritius had to have time to look at the deal.
Former Tory minister Simon Clarke told ITV’s Peston he “reluctantly hoped” Donald Trump would reject the proposal, calling it a “wretched deal”.
In the Commons on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch asked Sir Keir to confirm whether or not the Chagos deal would be paid out of his planned defence increase to 2.5% of GDP.
“The Chagos deal is extremely important for our security, for US security. The US are rightly looking at it. When it’s finalised I’ll put it before the House with the costings.”
Speaking after Prime Minister’s Questions, a spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said: “I think this all points to what amounts to really a cover-up of where this money for the Chagos surrender is coming from.
Earlier in the Commons, the Conservatives failed in a bid to secure greater transparency over the Chagos negotiations.
It also asked ministers to explain how the deal will be funded, the involvement of Attorney General Lord Hermer and details on why the Government sought to accelerate negotiations.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “The Government has covered up the true facts of this deal, a deal we would never have done, from the get-go.
Additional reporting by the Press Association
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump could veto Chagos Islands deal, David Lammy says )
Also on site :