Editorial: ​Terrible deal on Chagos Islands needs scrapped and UK and Western interests prioritised

​The defence secretary’s confirmation that the government will now review its appalling deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is good news, but it must result in a total U-turn in the British approach on this issue.

​The current government has been left in an unenviable position by successive UK administrations, who have been far too weak in defending this country’s national interests – and that of the West more generally.

Under Sir Keir Starmer, Labour were keen to point the finger at the Conservatives over the deal – saying the key concession of offering to give up sovereignty happened under their watch, a move “from which there was no coming back”.

To any casual observer, the deal struck by the UK over the Indian Ocean territory is absurd. A British Overseas Territory would be ceded to Mauritius and the UK would then be expected to dole out over £100m per year to lease back a joint UK-US military base there.

While the US President Donald Trump initially gave his blessing to the deal, he has changed his mind and called it “terrible” and “ridiculous”. It was paused in April, after Mr Trump withdrew his support.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to retaining the UK-US base on the island is welcome. However, in an uncertain world the UK should surely be taking a tougher stance than saying it will “work to find that resolution between the different sides”, as Mr Burnham put it.

Unionist politicians at Westminster have taken a keen interest in the issue – fearing it sets a precedent for other overseas territories. DUP peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme is attempting to bring legislation on the issue and Baronesses Arlene Foster and Kate Hoey have also campaigned on behalf of the exiled Chagossian people’s right to self determination.

Regardless of the route, the deal needs to be scrapped.