Watch the moment a fiery row breaks out on GB News after a Labour MP claims some Chagossians believe the deal is the “right thing to do”.
Discussing Sir Keir Starmer’s “surrender” deal, Alex Ballinger denied host Martin Daubney’s argument the deal is “dead in the water” and a “folly”, following Donald Trump’s latest outburst.
Taking to Truth Social, the US President declared Sir Keir’s Chagos Islands deal is a “big mistake”, ordering the PM to “not give away Diego Garcia”.
Meanwhile, de-facto Chagossian First Minister Misley Mandarin has travelled to the islands to create a permanent settlement there in protest of the deal, but has since been threatened with removal by the British authorities.
Mr Mandarin told Nigel Farage on GB News the British authorities will have to “kill” him before he is removed from the territory in the Indian Ocean.
Asked by Martin whether he believes the deal is “dead in the water”, Mr Ballinger disagreed: “No, absolutely not. It’s probably worth talking about how important Diego Garcia is as a base. I’m a former Royal Marine, and when I was in Afghanistan, we had lots of missions, bombing missions, flying from Diego Garcia coming and supporting us, and it has the same reach all over Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia.
“And I think your viewers could realise how vital it is that we secure this base. Now, that’s why the last Government started to negotiate the same deal that we have in front of us at the moment, and they had 11 rounds of negotiations, and last year we were able to secure a deal that had the support of all of our five partners, Australia and New Zealand, the US and Canada.”
Critiquing Mr Trump’s changing stance on the deal, Mr Ballinger argued: “And Trump himself has said several times this was a good deal for us to have, so I do think what has been said by Donald Trump, he’s come back and forwards in his unpredictable way that he does, his Trump style of diplomacy rather than a reflection of the deal we’ve secured at the moment.”
GB News host Martin Daubney clashed with Labour MP Alex Ballinger
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GB NEWS
Stressing the threat of removal of Mr Mandarin, Martin challenged the Labour MP: “If the British Army is sent into the Chagos Islands to remove Chagossians, people of colour from their homeland, by Sir Keir Starmer’s Government, that would be disastrous for this Government?
“For an imperial force to remove people of colour from their own homeland, this is the optics of a nightmare for the Labour Party?”
Mr Ballinger hit back: “Well, Martin, I think it’s worth saying that there’s a range of views amongst the Chagos people.
“Clearly, the four Chagossians that are there at the moment disagree with the deal, but there are also many Chagossians that think this is the right thing for their duty.”
Misley Mandarin has been served removal papers from the British Government | GB NEWS
Martin interjected, arguing: “Put it to a referendum and let them decide then, Alex? If there’s a range of opinions on this topic, put it to the people.
“How come Sir Keir Starmer said it’s uniquely up to the people of Greenland to decide the fate of Greenland, but it’s uniquely up to the Labour Government to decide the fate of the Chagossians?”
Laying blame on the previous Tory Government, the Labour MP responded: “Now this was the same approach the last Government took, that’s why they went through 11 rounds of negotiations on the deal. So I think there is an understanding about the international legal repercussions here, which is why we have got to this situation.
“I understand that the folks that are in Chagos, those four people there, it’s going to be difficult to sustain themselves, so they will probably have to leave of their own accord at some point soon anyway.”
Alex Ballinger told GB News there is a ‘range of opinion’ among the Chagossian community about the deal
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GB NEWS
Disagreeing with Mr Ballinger, Martin said: “I really don’t think that’s going to be the case, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“Mr Mandarin fought for the British Army, he was prepared to take a bullet for queen and country.
“These aren’t the kind of people that give up easy. You think you might have bitten off more than you can chew?”
Mr Ballinger concluded: “Well, obviously, we welcome the service of anyone Martin, but I think in this case, the legal case is clear and they have no right to be there.