Nana Akua has pinpointed what she suspects to be Donald Trump’s “last straw” with Sir Keir Starmer while their nations’ “special relationship” is tested by simmering tensions across the Atlantic.
Amid Mr Trump’s threat to acquire Greenland, the Prime Minister has fallen under immense pressure to cave, yet has remained steadfast against the bid, standing alongside the likes of France, Germany and Norway.
But Mr Trump escalated matters further this morning, launching an extraordinary attack on Labour’s Chagos deal and blasting it as an “act of great stupidity”.
As the Diego Garcia Bill continues to be debated in Parliament, fears have been raised over the controversial deal due to close economic ties binding Beijing and Mauritius together.
Critics say the deal, in effect, would increase its opportunity to spy on Western powers, with a UK-US military base on the archipelago.
Just hours after the Truth Social attack, Labour approved the Chinese super-embassy to be built in the heart of London, despite a ferocious wave of backlash against the planning permission over security concerns.
Reform UK has dubbed it a “serious threat to national security”, while the Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns said: “Labour’s greenlighting of the Chinese Embassy has gifted the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) a launchpad for economic warfare in the heart of London.”
Nevertheless, No10 swatted away criticism of the new Chinese embassy, dubbing critics “either naive or recklessly isolationist”.
Mark spoke to Nana Akua and Tom Harwood about Labour’s decision
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GB NEWS
But Mark White suggested the Tower Hamlets embassy has more to do with Sir Keir’s scheduled trip to Beijing in a matter of weeks.
Discussing the “super-embassy”, GB News’ Home and Security Editor commented: “I don’t think we’re surprised that this decision has gone the way it’s gone.
“Just ahead of that visit by Sir Keir Starmer to China, critics already saying, ‘look, you’re just putting national security on the back burner here because you’re more interested in what is politically expedient in cashing in on the Chinese dollar’.
“For me, actually, the most important thing about this is just waiting to see what the reaction of a certain individual in Washington might be, because there is no doubt he is on the warpath.
“He is taking it very personally.
LATEST ON THE ‘SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP’:
Nana argued the Chinese embassy ‘could be the last straw’ for Mr Trump
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PA/GB NEWS
“The fact that you have so many European countries in particular telling him is wrong over Greenland, and that’s probably why we saw such a sharp reaction again to Diego Garcia.”
In agreement, Nana added: “I think this could have been his last straw with Keir Starmer.
“And I think he’s obviously reading how irritated everybody else with them, even members of his own party.”
But now, Sir Keir could be faced with yet another backbench rebellion after he confirmed the Chagos deal will indeed go ahead – despite the President’s disapproval.
Writing in The Telegraph, Labour MP Graham Stringer called on fellow backbenchers to speak out against the “grave injustice”.
The Diego Garcia Bill is returning to the House of Commons for parliamentarians to consider the Lords’ amendments.
But Mr Stringer’s criticism of the bill actually lies in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, where it vowed to “always defend their [British Overseas Territories] sovereignty and right to self-determination”.
In giving up the territory – particularly without a referendum – Mr Stringer argues the Diego Garcia Bill does the “exact opposite” of what Labour set out to do.