| Chagos 11:02 - Jan 20 with 2723 views | LeoMuff |
Surely Kemi and Nige are barking up the wrong tree on this one ? We evicted a whole population to build a base we still want to use, we don’t own the island and have no jurisdiction over it without paying ?
Unless I missed something ? |  |
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| Chagos on 11:10 - Jan 20 with 2363 views | GlasgowBlue |
It doesn't matter what your view on the Chagos Islands are, the leader of a British political party shouldn't be backing Trump against our own Prime Minister, especially at whilst he is acting so aggressively. |  |
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| Chagos on 11:15 - Jan 20 with 2318 views | Pinewoodblue |
They are just agreeing with Trump, who has forgotten that last year he thought Starmer was doing the right thing. |  |
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| Chagos on 11:18 - Jan 20 with 2311 views | SomethingBlue |
Badenoch is an opportunist idiot. Farage is a traitor and it's high time the country woke up & realised it. |  |
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| Chagos on 11:22 - Jan 20 with 2285 views | mellowblue |
Counter arguement might be.If we have had possession of it all this time (having paid for it) and still need it for strategic/ geopolitical reasons, why give it back and pay an exorbitant rent on it at a time when our government purse cannot justify it. We are not doing the same for our bases on Cyprus. In this tough dog-eat dog, carve up the world, scenario, it makes us look out of step with current realities and weak. And there is little chance that native Chagoans will be going back anyway so it does not resolve any guilt felt in those quarters. | | | |
| Chagos on 11:22 - Jan 20 with 2272 views | LeoMuff |
| Chagos on 11:10 - Jan 20 by GlasgowBlue |
It doesn't matter what your view on the Chagos Islands are, the leader of a British political party shouldn't be backing Trump against our own Prime Minister, especially at whilst he is acting so aggressively. |
Agree, but sadly the days of political chivalry are long gone. | |
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| Chagos on 11:52 - Jan 20 with 2128 views | DJR |
| Chagos on 11:10 - Jan 20 by GlasgowBlue |
It doesn't matter what your view on the Chagos Islands are, the leader of a British political party shouldn't be backing Trump against our own Prime Minister, especially at whilst he is acting so aggressively. |
I posted the following on another thread earlier this morning but if we are to have a separate thread on Chagos, it's perhaps worth posting here.
The State Department put out a statement by Marco Rubio in May 2025 supporting the Chagos agreement.
https://www.state.gov/u-s-supp
"Today, the United States welcomed the historic agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory—specifically, the Chagos Archipelago.
We commend both the United Kingdom and Mauritius for their leadership, vision, and commitment to ensure that Diego Garcia remains fully operational for the duration of this agreement. We look forward to working closely with both governments to strengthen our collaboration in support of regional peace and stability.
Following a comprehensive interagency review, the Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia. This is a critical asset for regional and global security. President Trump expressed his support for this monumental achievement during his meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at the White House."
So Trump is being opportunistic and duplicitous after the fact, and the Tories and Reform supporting what Trump has said is pretty shameful. Now is not the time to be scoring political points with the future of Greenland and perhaps even NATO at stake.
And I suppose it begs the question: which side are you on?
EDIT: for context, this is what Farage said.
"Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands."
And this is what Badenoch said, with Greenland only getting one sentence at the end.
"Paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self sabotage.
I’ve been clear and unfortunately on this issue President Trump is right. Keir Starmer’s plan to give away the Chagos Islands is a terrible policy that weakens UK security and hands away our sovereign territory. And to top it off, makes us and our NATO allies weaker in face of our enemies.
Last night I met Speaker Johnson and we are united in that view. Britain’s and America’s interests align. Keir Starmer has the chance to change course on Chagos. Conservatives call on President Trump to reconsider Greenland too." [Post edited 20 Jan 12:35]
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| Chagos on 12:43 - Jan 20 with 1953 views | bsw72 |
| Chagos on 11:22 - Jan 20 by mellowblue |
Counter arguement might be.If we have had possession of it all this time (having paid for it) and still need it for strategic/ geopolitical reasons, why give it back and pay an exorbitant rent on it at a time when our government purse cannot justify it. We are not doing the same for our bases on Cyprus. In this tough dog-eat dog, carve up the world, scenario, it makes us look out of step with current realities and weak. And there is little chance that native Chagoans will be going back anyway so it does not resolve any guilt felt in those quarters. |
I don't think it is quite the same story for both places. The UK stance on the Cyprus bases is pretty clear-cut: we hold firm sovereignty there and see those bases as strategically important, critically with minimal legal pushback internationally. The situation with the Chagos Islands, though, is different as there have been international rulings against the UK’s claim and while still of stretegic importance, the region is not as volatile as the Middle East, which is the primary reason for maintaining Cyprus.
Ironically I think holding onto Chagos as a British Overseas territory would potentially weaken our argument against Trump looking to take over Greenland. We have morally done the right thing while maintaining a military position in the region.
At least I think the above makes sense, but who knows anymore. |  | | |
| Chagos on 13:07 - Jan 20 with 1825 views | giant_stow |
| Chagos on 11:18 - Jan 20 by SomethingBlue |
Badenoch is an opportunist idiot. Farage is a traitor and it's high time the country woke up & realised it. |
Yes, pretty clear what side Nige is on and its not the UK's |  |
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| Chagos on 13:34 - Jan 20 with 1745 views | Horsham |
| Chagos on 11:10 - Jan 20 by GlasgowBlue |
It doesn't matter what your view on the Chagos Islands are, the leader of a British political party shouldn't be backing Trump against our own Prime Minister, especially at whilst he is acting so aggressively. |
And not only that but Trump’s full rant was saying that the UK’s position on Chagos presents a reason why he should take Greenland.
Badenoch’s response was an unqualified agreement with Trump. She said he is right about Chagos without saying he is wrong about Greenland, unless someone can point me towards where I am wrong - that is disgraceful and acting against the national interest.
Edit - having read a previous comment - she did qualify on Greenland so that’s something. [Post edited 20 Jan 13:40]
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| Chagos on 13:49 - Jan 20 with 1692 views | DJR |
| Chagos on 13:34 - Jan 20 by Horsham |
And not only that but Trump’s full rant was saying that the UK’s position on Chagos presents a reason why he should take Greenland.
Badenoch’s response was an unqualified agreement with Trump. She said he is right about Chagos without saying he is wrong about Greenland, unless someone can point me towards where I am wrong - that is disgraceful and acting against the national interest.
Edit - having read a previous comment - she did qualify on Greenland so that’s something. [Post edited 20 Jan 13:40]
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Her comment on Greenland was pretty weak, and seemed rather a throw-away line at the very end. | | | |
| Chagos on 14:16 - Jan 20 with 1530 views | Horsham |
| Chagos on 13:49 - Jan 20 by DJR |
Her comment on Greenland was pretty weak, and seemed rather a throw-away line at the very end. |
Totally agree.
I think the optics are Trump says Chagos is a justification for Greenland and Badenoch says I agree with Trump. Her flimsy qualification about Greenland isn’t nearly enough. | | | |
| Chagos on 15:05 - Jan 20 with 1385 views | Guthrum |
| Chagos on 11:18 - Jan 20 by SomethingBlue |
Badenoch is an opportunist idiot. Farage is a traitor and it's high time the country woke up & realised it. |
Much of this is about regulation - particularly of environmental damage. Unless the USA owns Greenland, local, Danish and EU laws will get in the way of unrestricted plundering of resources (or, at the very least introduce expensive, profit-reducing operating restrictions).
Deregulation is largely what Farage is really about (the rest is just window-dressing and vote-harvesting). The modern Conservative Party tends that way, too (large businesses and wealthy investors are where most of their donations come from). [Post edited 20 Jan 15:06]
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| Chagos on 16:12 - Jan 20 with 1285 views | DJR |
This is what now War (then Defence) Secretary Hesgeth said in May, and this followed press reports in the Guardian and FT that Trump had given formal clearance for the deal to go ahead.
[Post edited 20 Jan 16:14]
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| Chagos on 17:08 - Jan 20 with 1184 views | LeoMuff |
| Chagos on 15:05 - Jan 20 by Guthrum |
Much of this is about regulation - particularly of environmental damage. Unless the USA owns Greenland, local, Danish and EU laws will get in the way of unrestricted plundering of resources (or, at the very least introduce expensive, profit-reducing operating restrictions).
Deregulation is largely what Farage is really about (the rest is just window-dressing and vote-harvesting). The modern Conservative Party tends that way, too (large businesses and wealthy investors are where most of their donations come from). [Post edited 20 Jan 15:06]
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Be interesting how much Denmark/Greenland would sell for surely multiple Trillions as it’s so strategically important and mineral rich.
Feels like something US taxpayers are never going to sanction and despite the bluster Trumps never going in with the military
Hopefully Europe will kick the can down the road and maybe push back around the time of the midterms. | |
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| Chagos on 18:15 - Jan 20 with 1118 views | redrickstuhaart |
Of course they are. Political opportunism. The deal is one largely negotiated by the previous government and richly endorsed by the states at the time. | |
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| Chagos on 18:21 - Jan 20 with 1106 views | pointofblue |
I feel very dirty saying this but both the Conservatives and Reform were against the Chagos deal even when Trump supported it. So it's not political opportunism in this case - it's them maintaining their stance. | |
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| Chagos on 18:23 - Jan 20 with 1100 views | redrickstuhaart |
| Chagos on 18:21 - Jan 20 by pointofblue |
I feel very dirty saying this but both the Conservatives and Reform were against the Chagos deal even when Trump supported it. So it's not political opportunism in this case - it's them maintaining their stance. |
The conservatives did most of the negotiation but left power before it was finalised. | |
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| Chagos on 18:29 - Jan 20 with 1082 views | Horsham |
| Chagos on 18:23 - Jan 20 by redrickstuhaart |
The conservatives did most of the negotiation but left power before it was finalised. |
The Tories negotiated it
Donald Trump ok’d it
Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth said it was a good deal. | | | |
| Chagos on 06:15 - Jan 21 with 964 views | Benters |
Edit.Balls etc. [Post edited 21 Jan 6:21]
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| Chagos on 14:46 - Jan 21 with 825 views | DJR |
| Chagos on 11:52 - Jan 20 by DJR |
I posted the following on another thread earlier this morning but if we are to have a separate thread on Chagos, it's perhaps worth posting here.
The State Department put out a statement by Marco Rubio in May 2025 supporting the Chagos agreement.
https://www.state.gov/u-s-supp
"Today, the United States welcomed the historic agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory—specifically, the Chagos Archipelago.
We commend both the United Kingdom and Mauritius for their leadership, vision, and commitment to ensure that Diego Garcia remains fully operational for the duration of this agreement. We look forward to working closely with both governments to strengthen our collaboration in support of regional peace and stability.
Following a comprehensive interagency review, the Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia. This is a critical asset for regional and global security. President Trump expressed his support for this monumental achievement during his meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at the White House."
So Trump is being opportunistic and duplicitous after the fact, and the Tories and Reform supporting what Trump has said is pretty shameful. Now is not the time to be scoring political points with the future of Greenland and perhaps even NATO at stake.
And I suppose it begs the question: which side are you on?
EDIT: for context, this is what Farage said.
"Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands."
And this is what Badenoch said, with Greenland only getting one sentence at the end.
"Paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self sabotage.
I’ve been clear and unfortunately on this issue President Trump is right. Keir Starmer’s plan to give away the Chagos Islands is a terrible policy that weakens UK security and hands away our sovereign territory. And to top it off, makes us and our NATO allies weaker in face of our enemies.
Last night I met Speaker Johnson and we are united in that view. Britain’s and America’s interests align. Keir Starmer has the chance to change course on Chagos. Conservatives call on President Trump to reconsider Greenland too." [Post edited 20 Jan 12:35]
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Badenoch doubled-down on this at PMQs and demonstrated to me that she isn't really Prime Ministerial material.
I thought Starmer's response was excellent.
"The words from President Trump were expressly intended to put pressure on me to yield on my principles. What he said about Chagos was literally in the same sentence as what he said about Greenland. That was his purpose.
And the future of Greenland is a binary issue that is splitting the world at the moment, with material consequences. I’ve been clear and consistent in my position on the future of Greenland. The future is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.
The leader of the opposition has taken three positions in 10 days. Ten days ago, she said Greenland was, in her words, ‘a second order issue’. Four days ago, she said she supported our position on Greenland. Now she is backing arguments intended to undermine our position, Britain’s position on Greenland.
This is an important national moment, and yet again, the leader of the opposition has shown she is incapable of rising to it." [Post edited 21 Jan 14:47]
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| Chagos on 14:51 - Jan 21 with 792 views | positivity |
| Chagos on 14:46 - Jan 21 by DJR |
Badenoch doubled-down on this at PMQs and demonstrated to me that she isn't really Prime Ministerial material.
I thought Starmer's response was excellent.
"The words from President Trump were expressly intended to put pressure on me to yield on my principles. What he said about Chagos was literally in the same sentence as what he said about Greenland. That was his purpose.
And the future of Greenland is a binary issue that is splitting the world at the moment, with material consequences. I’ve been clear and consistent in my position on the future of Greenland. The future is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.
The leader of the opposition has taken three positions in 10 days. Ten days ago, she said Greenland was, in her words, ‘a second order issue’. Four days ago, she said she supported our position on Greenland. Now she is backing arguments intended to undermine our position, Britain’s position on Greenland.
This is an important national moment, and yet again, the leader of the opposition has shown she is incapable of rising to it." [Post edited 21 Jan 14:47]
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she could have finally had a good week, but this just looks like she's way out of her league.
after tapping in the jenrick open goal and riding on starmer's coat-tails by backing him fully on his statesmanlike approach to greenland, she flip-flops almost immediately. ridiculous | |
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| Chagos on 15:01 - Jan 21 with 758 views | reusersfreekicks |
| Chagos on 11:18 - Jan 20 by SomethingBlue |
Badenoch is an opportunist idiot. Farage is a traitor and it's high time the country woke up & realised it. |
POTD |  | | |
| Chagos on 15:29 - Jan 21 with 720 views | JammyDodgerrr |
| Chagos on 14:46 - Jan 21 by DJR |
Badenoch doubled-down on this at PMQs and demonstrated to me that she isn't really Prime Ministerial material.
I thought Starmer's response was excellent.
"The words from President Trump were expressly intended to put pressure on me to yield on my principles. What he said about Chagos was literally in the same sentence as what he said about Greenland. That was his purpose.
And the future of Greenland is a binary issue that is splitting the world at the moment, with material consequences. I’ve been clear and consistent in my position on the future of Greenland. The future is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.
The leader of the opposition has taken three positions in 10 days. Ten days ago, she said Greenland was, in her words, ‘a second order issue’. Four days ago, she said she supported our position on Greenland. Now she is backing arguments intended to undermine our position, Britain’s position on Greenland.
This is an important national moment, and yet again, the leader of the opposition has shown she is incapable of rising to it." [Post edited 21 Jan 14:47]
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Thought he was excellent today, this from the snap verdict on The Guardian liveblog summed it up for me. Kemi can't stop herself from having an argument:
Until recently, almost the only MP in the Commons expressing an interest in the right of the Chagossians to self-determination was Jeremy Corbyn. The Tories do object to the Chagos Islands deal, but that is because they don’t really accept that the UK should be giving away colonially-acquired military assets just so the country be in compliance with international law. It is not because they care one jot about the Chagossians. The last Conservative government did not allow them to return, and Badenoch is certainly not promising to build homes for them on the Diego Garcia runway.
Which is a long way of saying – Badenoch was using a bogus argument as she aligned herself with Trump, and Keir Starmer was fully entitled to ridicule and condemn her for this. He did so firmly and effectively. It was a convincing win, and his best performance against her for ages. |  |
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| Chagos on 16:09 - Jan 21 with 669 views | ITFC_Forever |
The Orange Idiot was simply venting rubbish because we dared to stand up to him about Greenland. |  |
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| Chagos on 18:15 - Jan 21 with 582 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Chagos on 15:29 - Jan 21 by JammyDodgerrr |
Thought he was excellent today, this from the snap verdict on The Guardian liveblog summed it up for me. Kemi can't stop herself from having an argument:
Until recently, almost the only MP in the Commons expressing an interest in the right of the Chagossians to self-determination was Jeremy Corbyn. The Tories do object to the Chagos Islands deal, but that is because they don’t really accept that the UK should be giving away colonially-acquired military assets just so the country be in compliance with international law. It is not because they care one jot about the Chagossians. The last Conservative government did not allow them to return, and Badenoch is certainly not promising to build homes for them on the Diego Garcia runway.
Which is a long way of saying – Badenoch was using a bogus argument as she aligned herself with Trump, and Keir Starmer was fully entitled to ridicule and condemn her for this. He did so firmly and effectively. It was a convincing win, and his best performance against her for ages. |
Yes. Stamer won PMQ's by a country mile today. | |
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