Conservative MP and former home secretary Suella Braverman has taken to X (Twitter) to brutally slam Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy.

Her scathing attack comes following the announcment that the UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius. She called the move a ‘shameful decision’ and called David Lammy ‘China’s useful idiot’.

However, the move is not a new one under Starmer’s Labour Government. Fellow former Home Secretary James Cleverly reopened the process in November 2022 under Rishi Sunak’s Government, just months after Suella was appointed Home Secretary under Liz Truss.

The uproar surrounds the announcement that the UK is giving up sovereignty of a remote but strategically important cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean after more than 50 years as reported by the BBC.

The historic move was reached after years of negotations and includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, used by the US government as a military base for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft. It has been reported that the announcment was made in a joint statement by Kier Starmer and the Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

It ends decades of often tense negotiations between the two countries. But Suella is furious at the move, saying that it “severly undermines UK national security”.

She wrote: This is a shameful decision. Starmer’s reckless capitulation over the Chagos Islands severely undermines UK national security. We all knew Lammy was weak but now it’s official: he’s China’s useful idiot too. A dark day for our country’s sovereignty.”

The US-UK base will remain on Diego Garcia – a key factor enabling the deal to go forward at a time of growing geopolitical rivalries in the region between Western countries, India, and China.

But it’s not all fully set in stone yet as the deal is still subject to finalisation of a treaty, but both sides have promised to complete it as quickly as possible. As part of the deal, the UK will provide a package of financial support to Mauritius, including annual payments and infrastructure investment.

The statement from the Prime Ministers read: “This is a seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law.”

They also said they were committed “to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia which plays a vital role in regional and global security” and that the treaty “address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians”.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the benefits of the deal included closing “a potential illegal migration route”. This is related to dozens of Sri Lankan Tamils, who have been held in a fenced camp on the island for three years as complex legal battles are waged over their fate.

It is unclear what this news will mean for them.

Mauritius will also be able to begin a programme of resettlement on the Chagos Islands. This will not be the case on Diego Garcia, where the UK will ensure operation of the military base for “an initial period” of 99 years.