Chagos deal cost rises by £288m as Burnham presses on
The cost of the Chagos Islands surrender deal has risen by £288 million, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham continuing to pursue the deal despite US opposition and Chagossian protests.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The cost of the Chagos Islands surrender deal has increased by £288 million, according to a Telegraph analysis, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues to push the agreement forward. The rise is attributed to new Treasury rule changes under Defence Secretary John Healey, which have added to the financial burden of the deal that would transfer sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.
The deal, which has been in limbo since the Trump administration withdrew its support earlier this year, calling it an act of stupidity, is now back on the agenda. Mr Burnham, who has remained silent on the matter until now, is reportedly planning to continue with the surrender. The Foreign Office has defended the deal, stating that Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US, and that maintaining long-term operational control is the entire basis of the agreement.
However, the deal faces multiple obstacles. Mauritius is planning a showdown at the United Nations summit next month, where Mr Burnham will be in attendance. The Chagossian community, represented by Interim First Minister Misley Mandarin, has vowed to fight the deal, with Mr Mandarin stating that he would rather die than see his homeland handed over to a third country. He also highlighted the emotional toll, noting that a fellow Chagossian, Pascal Castel, has not seen his newborn son for over three months.
The UK is also sending officials to Mauritius for fresh talks next week, according to reports. The cost of the deal, which includes payments to Mauritius over 99 years, has been criticised by opponents as a waste of taxpayer money. The Telegraph analysis suggests the total cost could reach £50 billion, far exceeding earlier estimates.
Meanwhile, the Maldives, a close neighbour, has also claimed sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, adding further complexity. The government insists that the deal is necessary for national security, but critics argue that it is a colonial surrender that ignores the wishes of the Chagossian people, who want to remain British.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| Any Chagos Islands agreement would require US approval, which the US currently withholds. | |
| Chagossians are British citizens living on British territory. | |
| Funding for the Chagos Islands treaty will come from existing spending review settlements for the FCDO and the Ministry of Defence. | |
| Mauritius is planning to raise the Chagos issue at the United Nations summit next month. | |
| The cost of the Chagos deal increased by £288 million due to Treasury rule changes under John Healey. | |
| The first minister said Mauritius has never been on the side of the Chagosians and is using the islands as a cash cow. | |
| The President of the Maldives is claiming sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and seeking legal advice. | |
| The total cost of the Chagos deal could reach £50 billion over 99 years. | |
| The Trump administration withdrew its support from the Chagos deal, describing the deal as an act of stupidity. | |
| The UK will hold fresh talks with Mauritius next week to revive the Chagos Islands deal. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused on the rising cost of the Chagos deal, the opposition from the Trump administration, and the emotional resistance from Chagossian representatives. The tone was critical of the government, using terms like 'surrender' and 'frittered away', and highlighted the financial burden on taxpayers. The channel gave a platform to Misley Mandarin, the Interim First Minister of the Chagossian Government, to voice strong opposition and personal stories.
- “the cost of the deal has now ballooned by an additional 288 million pounds”
- “Andy Burnham is pressing ahead with the Chagos surrender”
- “we will fight till death if need be to save our island”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.