Keir Starmer has faced criticism for allegedly concealing details about increased defence spending following his refusal to clarify whether it encompasses costs associated with relinquishing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
During a session in Parliament, the Prime Minister highlighted that the spending boost is intended to enhance the UK’s defence and security capabilities in Europe.
However, he did not confirm whether the funds would also cover expenses related to leasing the UK-US joint airbase on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos archipelago.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of implicitly admitting that the funding for the Chagos initiative would be drawn from the defence budget, urging that no defence funds should be allocated to what she described as a dubious agreement.
She expressed hopes that former President Donald Trump would intervene to prevent the arrangement.
The UK government is negotiating the transfer of control over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal speculated to be valued at £9 billion.
Although the specifics of a 99-year leaseback agreement for the base remain undisclosed, the government has committed to revealing the financial details to Parliament once the agreement is finalized.
This issue was a focal point at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), where Starmer faced substantial pressure to disclose whether the newly announced £6 billion annual increase in defence funding would finance the Chagos transaction.
Despite queries from the opposition, including Tory leader Badenoch and Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois, Starmer maintained that the additional funding was dedicated solely to bolstering European defence and security.
The controversy follows Starmer’s proposal to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, a move funded by significant cuts to the UK’s foreign aid budget.
This announcement was met with criticism from leading economists and accusations of manipulating financial projections to exaggerate the spending increase.
The debate continues, with opposition members calling for transparency regarding the source of funding for the Chagos agreement, highlighting concerns over the potential diversion of defence resources to cover the costs of leasing a base that is currently under British sovereignty.
