Sir Keir Starmer “must go” if the Chagos deal “destroys” the UK’s special relationship with the US, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed.The special relationship appeared to reach an even lower ebb yesterday after it was revealed that Donald Trump had lashed out at the Prime Minister’s Chagos deal over the UK blocking the US from launching air strikes against Iran.It is understood that the UK refused to allow the US to conduct strikes against Iran from a British base on Diego Garcia and another military base in Gloucestershire.Mr Farage responded by suggesting Sir Keir should be booted out of No10 if his £35billion handover deal risks damaging the special relationship.
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The Reform UK leader said: “If Keir Starmer’s real obsession with getting rid of the Chagos Islands is to destroy our strong defence relationship with America, then his Government must go.”The Clacton MP is also looking to put pressure on Sir Keir in the courts after claiming victory over the now-dropped plans to cancel local elections.Mr Farage submitted a pre-action letter to halt the eviction orders issued against four Chagossians who settled on the Indian Ocean archipelago.However, a judge has already temporarily blocked the Labour Government from removing Chagossians from their homeland after a group arrived there this week.Justice James Lewis secured the ruling from a plane on Thursday night in a lifeline for the islanders.”There is no doubt the balance of convenience falls on the side of the claimants,” Justice Lewis said. “They are 120 miles from Diego Garcia and pose no threat to national security on the evidence before me.”The injunction will remain for seven days, allowing Sir Keir’s Government time to respond.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSChagossians cannot be evicted from homeland after judge makes vital last-minute interventionChagossian First Minister vows to bring MORE people to islands after being threatened with removalDonald Trump breaks his silence on Andrew’s arrest two months before King’s US visitHowever, the Prime Minister is facing a huge struggle to maintain his close working relationship with the US President.Earlier this week, Mr Trump said: “I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title, and interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.”He added: “Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before.“In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature. Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime – an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.”However, Mr Trump’s criticisms came after the Prime Minister blocked a request for the US to use British bases to attack Iran.Government sources told The Times that the UK was not likely to support a pre-emptive military strike.”There is a political process ongoing between the US and Iran, which the UK supports,” a Government spokesman said.”Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security in the region.”Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to meet her US counterpart Marco Rubio during a visit to Washington today.Ms Cooper’s trip comes after leading figures in British politics lobbied officials in Washington to oppose Sir Keir’s £35billion handover deal.Tory grandee Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have been identified as key figures highlighting concerns with Mr Trump’s White House.
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