Sir Keir Starmer has been lambasted by a lead Chagossian campaigner after handing millions in taxpayer money to Mauritius.
Speaking to GB News, Misley Mandarin hit out at the Prime Minister’s deal with Mauritius, arguing that Sir Keir should be “looking after his own people” and the Chagossians.
A year after provisionally signing a £35billion deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to the African nation, the Government has been found to be giving Mauritius £12million as part of another scheme.
The scheme is destined to support Mauritius with economic growth, security and climate change.
Delivering his verdict on the deal, Mr Mandarin told GB News: “Instead of giving £12million to Mauritius, help us with that £12million to resettle our British Chagossians.
“Why are they giving hard cash, taxpayer money to a third country? Why are they not helping the Chagos Islands?”
Mr Mandarin stressed that the British Government once “removed” the Chagossians from their homeland, leaving the community “in despair”.
He said: “You have to remember, the British Government removed the Chagossians, left our houses in despair and wrecked.
Chagossian Misley Mandarin has hit out at Keir Starmer for handing taxpayer money to Mauritius
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GB NEWS / PA
“So now, he [Keir Starmer] should use that money to rebuild our community, rebuild a British Chagossian community in the Indian Ocean.”
Mr Mandarin expressed his disbelief at Sir Keir for “putting other countries first” despite the widespread backlash to the initial Chagos surrender deal.
He told GB News: “I don’t understand why he’s putting other countries first. Why not put British people first?
“One of the reasons we are here, we are putting Britain first. We are putting British interests first. We’re not here for pleasure, we are not here on holiday. We are here to hold national security, we are here to hold global security and put Britain first.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signed a deal with Mauritius which includes a ‘£12million climate finance scheme’
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GETTYMr Mandarin admitted his disappointment in the Labour Government over the deal, following the “baffling” Chagos deal.
He said: “This is something I don’t understand with this Labour Government, Martin. Why? Why would you put other people first? Why you don’t look after your people?
“This whole saga of the Chagos surrender deal baffled me, and it’s very sad. We’ve been voting those politicians to put our interests in the world, but they’re not doing that anymore.
“They are probably looking at their own interests when their life in politics is finished, they can have something in Mauritius, they can have a bungalow, they can enjoy life. But this is not politics. You need to work for your people.”
Mr Mandarin told GB News that the Chagos surrender deal ‘baffled’ him
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GB NEWS
In a statement, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesman said: “National security is the first duty of this Government.
“That’s why, to fund a necessary increase in defence spending, the Government has taken the decision to reduce the UK ODA budget to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027.
“We remain absolutely committed to tackling the global challenges of hunger, disease, insecurity and conflict.
“But we have been clear we must modernise our approach to development to reflect the changing global context.”