Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage issued a fresh warning over the Chagos Islands deal ahead of its latest Commons hurdle today. The Reform UK leader raised fears over whether the agreement to cede sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius would be “selling us out to China”.
He said: “Monday is the third reading of the bill to hand the British sovereign territory of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. China has built a smart city right next door to Port Louis. Huawei safe city cameras are being installed all over the island and now China is negotiating a lease on Peros Banhos, the island close to Diego Garcia.
“Is Jonathan Powell selling us out to China? What will the Americans say when they realise their military base is no longer secure?”
It comes as the Chagos Bill returns to the Commons this afternoon for its remaining stages. Mr Farage’s comments are the latest backlash over the Government’s plans to hand over the Chagos Islands then pay to lease back the UK/US Diego Garcia military base.
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Tories hit out at Starmer over China spy case
The Government’s explanation of its role in the collapse of the China spying case is “falling apart”, according to Tory MP Nick Timothy.
He told GB News: “The Government’s case is falling apart. Every single day we get new news reports. Last week we had the security minister come to Parliament. He denied that one of the most sensitive meetings in this whole story took place in September.
“By Wednesday, the Prime Minister came to Parliament and confirmed that that meeting did take place. And then on Thursday, they sent a junior minister who gave, I’m afraid, I think, the worst performance I’ve seen in the House of Commons in my time there to date.
“He wasn’t able to answer any question. He wasn’t able to justify what the Prime Minister had said, had contradicted what the Government had previously said in several key ways. And we need to get to the bottom of this. We need the truth.
“We need total transparency, because at the heart of this is something really, really important, which is our national security.”
MP calls for Parliament to ‘act’ over removing Andrew’s titles
York Central MP Rachael Maskell said Parliament should “act” over removing Prince Andrew’s titles.
Ms Maskell, who in 2022 introduced a private members’ bill that would give the monarch powers to remove titles, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s a single clause bill which I’m proposing, so it wouldn’t take up time, but it would make a real difference should these occurrences arise.
“And of course, any associations with individuals as apparent as somebody like Epstein could then be addressed in such a way.
“So I really do trust that Parliament will take this seriously and recognise there are opportunities here to address the wrongs of history and to ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are really heard and acted upon.”
The MP, who had the Labour whip taken off her for objections to the Government’s welfare reforms, added: “I do think it is for Parliament to act.
“I presume the technicalities of that would be that there would have to be a conversation between the Palace and Parliament to indicate that the King was willing to assume those powers.
“But of course, Parliament could press forward with action and legislation if it so chose. And I think we need to find a mechanism in order to achieve that. The private members’ route would be one such measure.”
Stripping Andrew of his right to be a prince ‘isn’t a matter for the Government’
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said stripping Prince Andrew of his right to be a prince “isn’t a matter for the Government”.
Asked whether Parliament should strip Prince Andrew of his titles, Ms Phillipson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This isn’t a matter for the Government, and we do support the statement that the royal family issued and the action that’s been taken.
“Our thoughts have to be with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, those who suffered and continue to suffer because of the abuse that they experienced at his hands, but these are matters for the royal family.”
The Labour MP added: “We would be guided by the royal family in this and I imagine the royal family would want Parliament to continue to dedicate our time to our wider legislative programme, but we will be guided by the monarch.
“It’s why we do support the statement that was issued and the action that has been taken. But of course, Prince Andrew holds the title of Prince because he is the son of a monarch, and that’s the situation that we have.”
Asked why it was not a matter for the Government, Ms Phillipson said: “Because the Government by long-standing convention does not involve itself in matters concerning the royal family.
“The royal family don’t involve themselves in the business of government in terms of inserting themselves into the discussion and it’s right that we respect that going the other way as well.”
Reeves launches fresh Brexit attack
Rachel Reeves has launched a fresh attack on Brexit ahead of her Budget.
The Chancellor insisted Britain’s departure from the EU has done long-term damage to the economy.
In remarks published this weekend, she told an international economic committee at the International Monetary Fund (IMF): “The UK’s productivity challenge has been compounded by the way in which the UK left the European Union.”
Ms Reeves quoted the Office for Budget Responsibility’s estimate of a 4% long-term hit compared to remaining in the bloc.
She said the UK “acknowledges this” in seeking stronger trade ties.
Final week of campaigning for Labour deputy leadership race
The two candidates vying to be Labour’s next deputy leaders are beginning their final week of campaigning before the polls in the contest close.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has vowed to reduce child poverty and warned that not voting for her will result in “internal debate and divisions that leads us back to opposition”.
Lucy Powell, the Manchester Central MP and former Government minister, said she would offer a “strong, independent voice at the top” in what could be Labour members’ last chance to change the party’s course before the next general election.
The deputy leadership contest was triggered after Angela Rayner stood down over a row over her tax affairs.
Results will be announced on Saturday, October 25.
