Labour’s controversial Chagos deal is under further pressure as it could be challenged in court while President Donald Trump makes a last minute intervention.
Former government law officer Sir Michael Ellis said the deal had been so poorly handled that it has exposed ministers to the prospect of a judicial review that could see the decision overturned in court.
Ellis cited multiple reasons why the deal could be challenged in court, including the cost of the deal, the Government’s “imperialist” approach to the rights of the Chagossians as well as national security consequences
He told The Telegraph: “The Government is in danger of a court finding that their decisions over the Chagos Islands are not just bad, they are irrational.”
It comes as the US is demanding a seat at the negotiating table alongside the UK and Mauritius.
Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam said the White House had asked for a “representative in the meetings” to reach a final deal concerning the disputed British territory, saying: “We have agreed to that.”
His statements came during an event celebrating Olivier Bancoult, the Chagossian activist who has for decades campaigned against the UK’s claim over the Chagos Islands.
During a speech, the Prime Minister said the “final document” was still awaiting approval by the White House, but stressed that his priority was not the financial package, “but the total sovereignty of Mauritius over the archipelago.”
Mauritius has claimed that the remote cluster of islands was stolen from them when they gained independence from Britain in 1968.
Deputy prime minister Paul Bérenger said that by Britain giving Mauritius “total sovereignty” over the Chagos Islands “the English have definitively buried the BIOT (British Indian Ocean Territories).”
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Britons face net zero ‘flight tax’ on summer holidays in ‘forced’ lifestyle changes ahead of carbon budget
The Government could consider introducing strict lifestyle changes ahead of the upcoming carbon budget, a source close to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has revealed.
The proposed measures could include an increase in taxes for British holidaymakers as Keir Starmer seeks to hit legally binding 5-year targets.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) who advises the Government on climate change emissions, is due to present their findings to the Secretary of State on February 26 – with recommendations that could have a major impact on freedoms and lifestyle.
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Davey says future of Ukraine should not be decided by Putin and Trump in ‘locked room’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called on the US to bring Ukraine, the UK and Europe to the negotiating table to decide the future of the war torn country.
It comes as Trump ordered top US officials to begin talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
Davey said: “The future of Ukraine, and European security with it, cannot and should not be decided by Putin and Trump in a locked room – with President Zelensky, the UK and our European allies shut outside.
“It is of deep concern that Donald Trump has far warmer words for Putin than he does for Ukraine, the UK or any of our allies. We all fear where this could end. The UK and our European allies must ensure that President Zelensky is not bullied by Trump into giving away sovereign Ukrainian territory to Putin.”
GDP in UK grows by 0.1% BUT Reeves’s fiscal plans slammed as ‘going nowhere at all’
Gross domestic product (GDP) growth grew by 0.1 per cent in the last quarter, following no growth in the economy the previous quarter, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised to “kickstart the economy” and focus on bolstering GDP growth during her tenure in the economy, however analysts will be questioning whether this level will be enough.
Despite the UK avoiding a recession since Labour returned to power, which occurs when an economy experiences two consecutive quarters of negative growth, the current GDP rate appears to be flatlining.
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Stride accuses Reeves’ budget of ‘killing’ growth – ‘We’re already paying for her choices’
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said Rachel Reeves’ budget was “killing growth” and working people and businesses are “already paying for her choices.”
He said: “The Chancellor promised the fastest growing economy in the G7, but her budget is killing growth.
“Working people and businesses are already paying for her choices with ever rocketing taxes, hundreds of thousands of job cuts and business confidence plummeting.
“It does not need to be this way. Under new leadership, the Conservative Party will continue to oppose Labour’s disastrous decisions and stand up for businesses and working people up and down our country.”
