UK politics: Tom Tugendhat suggests Chagos Islands deal could lead to China establishing base there – as it happened

A US plane lands at the military base on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands Photograph: APFootage/Alamy

5.36pm BST

Afternoon summary

• The UK has agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending years of bitter dispute over Britain’s last African colony. The Foreign Office insists that the deal will “settle historic sovereignty claims, protect our national security and close a potential illegal migration route”. It has been welcomed by figures ranging from President Biden to Jeremy Corbyn. But all four Tory leadership candidates have strongly criticised the decision, claiming it is a sign of weakness and a risk to national security, even though one of them, James Cleverly, was foreign secretary, when the talks on transferring sovereignty started. In a statement to parliament on 3 November 2022, Cleverly said:

The UK and Mauritius have agreed to engage in constructive negotiations, with a view to arriving at an agreement by early next year.

David Clark, a Labour former special adviser in the Foreign Office, accused Cleverly of blatant hypocrisy.

Well this is disappointing. I thought Cleverly was a cut above the populist buffoons around him. Turns out he’s just as much of a hyperbolic truth-twister as the rest of them. The negotiations to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands were initiated by him as a Minister. https://t.co/SL0KaOFZ5v

— David Clark (@David_K_Clark) October 3, 2024

Well this is disappointing. I thought Cleverly was a cut above the populist buffoons around him. Turns out he’s just as much of a hyperbolic truth-twister as the rest of them. The negotiations to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands were initiated by him as a Minister.

• Hundreds of homeless young people, including dozens who are pregnant or have children, are being illegally turned away by councils when they ask for help, the Guardian has learned.

• Keir Starmer has repaid thousands of pounds in freebies to restore trust in politics, a minister has said as she ruled out accepting more hospitality.

• Boris Johnson has insisted he would have won another election if he had not been forced from Downing Street, arguing in his new memoir that he broke no rules with lockdown parties and was the victim of a conspiracy.

5.13pm BST

Jeremy Corbyn welcomes Chagos Islands deal as 'milestone for decolonisation'

Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who now sits in the Commons as an independent MP, has been campaigning on behalf of Chagossians for many years. He has welcomed today’s announcement as a “milestone for decolonisation”.

I pay tribute to Olivier Bancoult and Chagossian communities who have been disgracefully treated for so long.

Following decades of campaigning, this long overdue settlement at last includes the right to return. A milestone for decolonisation.https://t.co/rBUTIztpFd

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 3, 2024