Keir Starmer accused of 'lying to British public' as Chagos deal to cost up to £30bn

has been accused of "lying to the British public" after claiming his would cost just £3.4 billion-with Tories claiming the real bill could be as high as £30.3 billion. The Prime Minister unveiled the 25-year economic partnership with Mauritius earlier this week, promising it would "secure long-term stability" and "right a historic wrong".

But critics say the agreement hands over British territory to a Chinese-aligned state while binding taxpayers to a century of payments. The Conservative Party has branded it a "Surrender Deal", accusing Mr Starmer of misleading the public over the true cost and undermining national security in the process. Priti Patel, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, said: "Labour is lying to British taxpayers with their made-up numbers and dodgy accounting... the true cost of this surrender tax to the British public now seems set to top an eye-watering £30 billion."

The economic partnership treaty commits Britain to extensive financial contributions, which Conservative figures say amount to a "blank cheque" to Mauritius.

Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party, accused Mr Starmer of making the UK "a global laughing stock", adding: "British territory handed over to a country aligned with China... all to appease the lawyers and activist elite Keir Starmer surrounds himself with."

Sir Keir has defended the deal, calling it a "pragmatic step forward" that shows Britain "respects international law and its obligations to its partners."

But with millions already squeezed by Labour's £40 billion tax hikes, and uncertainty lingering over Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners, critics argue he is putting ideology before the interests of British citizens.

Critics have warned the deal risks opening the door to future interference by foreign powers, with particular concerns raised about China's expanding presence in the Indian Ocean and Russia's growing military outreach.

Conservative defence spokesman James Cartlidge called the agreement "a fundamental betrayal of the UK national interest," suggesting it could compromise the long-term integrity of Diego Garcia as a base shared with the United States.

A senior defence official said the base is "irreplaceable" from a strategic standpoint, serving as a key hub for surveillance, logistics and rapid deployment across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. They said: "This isn't just real estate - it's infrastructure that underpins how we operate globally," the official said.

Mr Starmer's insistence that the deal includes "strong protections" has done little to satisfy critics, who argue that sovereignty once transferred is difficult to claw back if geopolitical conditions change.

The Ministry of Defence has emphasised that the agreement contains binding clauses: no foreign troops will be allowed on any part of the archipelago, development is subject to British veto, and a 24-mile exclusion zone will remain in place around Diego Garcia.

Even so, concerns remain that Mauritius could eventually come under pressure from Beijing - which has invested heavily in ports and infrastructure across the region - or pursue alliances that shift the strategic balance.

Security analyst Dr Emily Ferris warned: "This is a long game. Any weakening of UK control now will be watched very closely by competitors looking to expand their influence in the Indo-Pacific."

Chagossians, meanwhile, have voiced fears they will be forgotten in the geopolitical manoeuvring. Campaigner Bertrice Pompe said: "We've waited decades to go home. Now our future's being decided without us - again."

Express.co.uk has contacted Number 10 about Ms Badenoch and Ms Patel's remarks.