Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has vowed to "rip up" Sir Keir Starmer's Chagos deal if his party wins the next general election.
Speaking to GB News this morning, the Boston & Skegness MP branded the agreement "invalid" and "the worst property deal in history".
Donald Trump has now approved Sir Keir Starmer's plan to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, No10 has confirmed.
The UK Government will now ramp up negotiations with Mauritius ahead of eventually transferring sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Richard Tice claimed Reform UK will rip up the Chagos deal
GB NEWS
Tice told GB News : “This Labour Government hasn't asked the US to pay a single dollar to Mauritius.
"So, of course, the Americans think, great, we've still got occupation of these islands for the next 99 years. We don't have to pay those foolish Brits under the foolish Keir Starmer who is paying billions and billions of pounds.
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“Let me tell you, on the Chagos deal, we will rip it up when we win the next general election, we will rip it up.
"It'll be an invalid treaty, because the Mauritians are in breach of the original 1960s treaty when we paid them the equivalent of £75million to cede any future claims, that's the focus.
"That's why we've got the support of the British people on the Chagos deal.
“The role of any leader of any country is to negotiate the best deal for their citizens the Americans have not been asked to pay a single dollar for this ludicrous deal.
‘The Americans are not that concerned about it relative to all the other issues, the Ukraine war, the Middle East crisis, that is their interest.
"At the end of the day that Chagos deal, it's the worst property deal in history, and when Reform wis the next election, we will rip it up as an invalid.”
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I think the finalisation of the deal is ongoing, but we'll obviously provide an update as and when we've got one."
The spokesman added that the US President "recognised the strength of the deal". UK Government sources have indicated they are not waiting for further sign-off from Donald Trump.
The Chagos Islands deal has been approved by Donald TrumpGettyEarlier this year, Foreign Secretary David Lammy had said the deal would not proceed if the US President had objections.
The plan to hand over control of the Chagos Islands was first announced last October following negotiations with then-Mauritian leader Pravind Jugnauth.
Under the proposed agreement, Mauritius would gain sovereignty of the islands from the UK. However, the deal would allow the US and UK to continue operating a military base on one of the islands for an initial period of 99 years.
The Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been the subject of lengthy negotiations.
Both the UK and Mauritian Governments are "currently working to finalise this agreement", according to a statement from Mauritius.
