Donald Trump has signed off on Keir Starmer's surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritus, giving the UK the go-ahead to finalise the handover.
No. 10 said the details are now being completed between the UK and the island in the Indian Ocean, which has never owned the Chagos Islands.
Despite uproar at home and warnings it will undermine Britain's security abroad and embolden China, a Downing Street spokesman said this lunchtime: "I think the finalisation of the deal’s ongoing, but we’ll obviously provide an update as and when we’ve got one.”
Asked if the UK is still waiting on President Trump to sign off on the deal, he replied: "I mean, you will have seen from the president that he recognised the strength of the deal."
“I think we are now working with the Mauritian government to finalise the deal and sign the treaty.
“My understanding is it’s now between us and the Mauritian government to finalise the deal following the discussions with the US.”
In response to the news, MP Rupert Lowe blasted: "As usual, the British taxpayer suffers. AGAIN."
"We desperately need a Government that puts the British people at the very top of the agenda.
"What a nice change that would make..."
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