12/18
Chagos Islands Handover
Move: In October 2024, Starmer’s government agreed to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, retaining the Diego Garcia military base under a 99-year lease. 

This followed a decades-long dispute and pressure from the US and UN.

Criticism: 
Seen as a strategic blunder, this move has been slammed by conservatives and Reform UK as weakening UK territorial integrity and signaling weakness to adversaries like China, which could exploit Mauritius’ debt ties. 

The Times and X posts highlight the risk to the base’s security, vital for US-UK operations, especially with Trump allies opposing it. 

Former PM Boris Johnson called it “spineless.” 

Critics tie it to Starmer’s DPP-era human rights stance, suggesting ideological naivety over national interest.

Counterpoint: 
Starmer argues it secures the base legally, avoiding an International Court of Justice ruling against the UK. 

However, the lack of parliamentary debate and public consultation has fuelled perceptions of an elitist giveaway.