Keir Starmer insists Chagos deal necessary to safeguard national security

The UK has denied the cost of handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius could rise to £18 billion (Stefan Rousseau/PA) - (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer has warned national security could be put at risk without a deal to give “legal certainty” over the status of the Chagos Islands and the strategically important Diego Garcia military base.

The UK has denied the cost of handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius could rise to £18 billion and disputed claims made by the Mauritian prime minister about the renegotiated deal.