‘I expected to see him in the immigration statistics’: PM jokes about Farage’s US visits
Nigel Farage is next up to ask a question at PMQs.
The Reform UK leader – who travelled to the US last week to celebrate Donald Trump’s election win – calls on the House to congratulate the president-elect on his “landslide victory”.
He then asks Sir Keir Starmer whether he will work to “mend some fences” between the UK government and Trump following what he calls “rude” comments by some Labour members in recent years.
“I’m glad to see the honourable member making a rare appearance back here in Britain. He spent so much time in America recently I was half expecting to see him on the immigration statistics,” the prime minister quips.
Sir Keir points out he did congratulate Mr Trump and will “work with him”.
He also says Mr Farage’s question – about whether Iran’s Revolutionary Guard will be proscribed as a terror group – is a “serious point”.
Government ‘looking forward’ to working with Trump’s team – including Elon Musk
We’ve just had Number 10’s regular post-PMQs catch-up with journalists, and the prospect of potential co-operation with Elon Musk was brought up.
You’ll recall the billionaire had a public slagging match with the government over the summer, as he said the summer riots showed the UK was facing “civil war” and accused Sir Keir Starmer of overseeing “two-tier policing” with the response.
But Musk has since been working directly with Donald Trump, and the president-elect has announced he’ll head up a new department to find government cost savings.
No 10 said: “We look forward to working with president-elect Trump and his team on a wide range of issues to advance the US and UK relationship.
‘No decisions have been taken’ on Post Office closures, minister says
Business minister Gareth Thomas opens his statement in the Commons by saying: “This government inherited a Post Office that is simply not fit for purpose following, frankly, disinterest from the last government, a toxic culture in head office, and years of underinvestment.”
The government’s “top priority is to deliver redress to those affected by the Horizon scandal”, he says.
“Complex cases” remain outstanding, however, and ministers have “identified gaps in the compensation process”.
Nonetheless, as of 31 October, £438m has been paid to over 3,100 claimants, and the government has acted to overturn convictions, he says.
More broadly, Mr Thomas says while the Post Office provides “essential services”, there needs to be “significant cultural change”.
‘Doing nothing is not an option’
Nearly half of branches are not profitable or only make a small amount, postmaster pay has not increased “materially” in a decade, and costs to do business are very high.
To correct all of those issues, “central costs” must be cut.
A transformation plan, which says over 100 larger Post Office branches could close, has been announced – but the minister insists “no decisions… have been taken”.
He says the government has told the Post Office that no closures can go ahead with a proper consultation with postmasters, (furious) trade unions, and other stakeholders.
Finally, the minister says the government will consult with the public on the future of the Post Office, saying: “Doing nothing […] is simply not an option.”
Watch live: Minister makes statement on future of Post Office
Business minister Gareth Thomas is making a statement on what the future holds for the Post Office.
It comes following news hundreds of branches could close as part of a “transformation plan”.
Watch live in the stream above or below.
Farage warns of conflict with Trump administration over Chagos Islands deal
Nigel Farage rises in the Commons to counter Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty’s arguments that agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands does not compromise national security (see previous post).
The Reform UK leader argues Mauritius “has no legal or historical claim to the sovereignty of a group of islands that are 1,300 miles away”.
He says a ruling by the International Court of Justice stating otherwise was “purely an advisory opinion”, so “there is no legal reason why we have to do any of this”.
Mr Farage also rebukes the governments’ claim the US is in favour of the deal, saying the incoming Trump team is not, and points to Hong Kong as an example of agreements being broken.
“There is no basis for this agreement to continue as it is, and if you do, you’ll be in conflict with a country without which we would be defenceless [the US],” he concludes.
The minister replies: “I fundamentally disagree.”
He says the future of the base on Diego Garcia was already under threat due to international court rulings going against the UK – which Mr Farage does not react well to (see image below).
Minister dismisses potential Trump concerns
Mr Doughty continues: “In the absence of a negotiated solution, a legally-binding decision against the UK seemed inevitable.
“This would have threatened the secure and effective operation of the base, and that was not sustainable.”
In terms of the incoming Trump administration’s reaction, the minister says the US national security apparatus has welcomed the deal, adding: “I am confident that the details of this arrangement will allay any concerns.”
He concludes: “I am confident this deal is the right thing for our national security, it’s the right thing for the Chagossian community, it’s the right thing for our allies and partners.”
What are the Chagos Islands – and why has the UK handed them over?
Back in October, the government struck an agreement with Mauritius to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
The deal includes the tropical atoll Diego Garcia used by the US and UK as a military base, although the UK will continue to use it for “an initial period of 99 years”.
What are the Chagos Islands?
The Chagos Islands is a group of seven atolls in the Indian Ocean, comprising over 60 Islands.
Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give up the islands in return for its own independence in 1968, and had already agreed to lease Diego Garcia to the US to use as a military base.
In recent years, the UK has been facing diplomatic pressure to renounce its claim to the islands, and these negotiations got under way before Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister.
Why was Britain facing pressure?
Chagossians were forced to leave the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to make way for the military base.
The expulsions are regarded as one of the most shameful parts of Britain’s modern colonial history and Chagossians have spent decades fighting to return to the islands.
The United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, previously ruled the UK’s administration of the territory was “unlawful” and must end.
Negotiations to hand them over began in November 2022, under the Conservative government, with James Cleverly as foreign secretary.
Once it was done, a joint statement by the prime ministers of the UK and Mauritius said the deal would “address wrongs of the past”.
The foreign secretary, David Lammy, said it would still secure the “vital” military base and ensure the UK can still play a role “safeguarding global security” in the Indo-Pacific.
What’s the reaction been?
Many Tories reacted with fury, even though the negotiations began under their party’s watch, and Reform’s Nigel Farage wasn’t happy either.
Critics warned the move will empower China.
It was welcomed by US President Joe Biden, who hailed the “historic agreement” as a “clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes”.
But there have been some reports Donald Trump, who will become president in the new year, isn’t as keen.
Minister insists Chagos Islands deal will not compromise national security
Nigel Farage is next to take to his feet in the House of Commons to ask the foreign secretary if he will “make a statement on the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius”.
David Lammy is not present to answer, however, and one of his ministers, Stephen Doughty, takes his place.
The Foreign Office minister tells MPs the deal with the Chagos Islands was struck after “two years of negotiation under three prime ministers”.
“This government secured a deal that will protect the secure operation of the UK-US base on Diego Garcia [one of the islands] well into the next century.”
Military base plays ‘critical role’
He goes on to say the future of the base was “under threat” due to court rulings in favour of Mauritian sovereignty over the archipelago, and it was “not sustainable”.
“The base on Diego Garcia plays a critical role in countering an array of threats to regional and international security,” he says.
“Without legal certainty, the base simply cannot operate effectively. Continued uncertainty would be a gift to our adversaries – this is why the agreement has been welcomed by all parts of the US system, and by other critical regional security partners.”
The deal protects British interests, respects those of allies, and “upholds the international rule of law”.
Pre-empting questions about the potential for Chinese influence to be expanded in the region, Mr Doughty says the treaty includes measures to prevent the presence of “foreign security forces on the outer islands”.
He adds: “We would not have signed off an agreement that compromised any of our security interests or those of our allies.”
Watch live: Farage asks urgent question about Chagos Islands deal
Nigel Farage is on his feet in the House of Commons asking the government if they will “make a statement on the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius”.
The deal to transfer the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, home to a military base used by the UK and the US that plays a crucial role in the region’s stability and international security.
Under the agreement, the base will remain under UK and US jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years.
Nonetheless, the agreement has proved wildly controversial.
Watch events live in the stream below – and follow updates here in the Politics Hub.
MP concerned over time given for assisted dying law vote
Sir Alec Edward Shelbrooke has the last question of this session – and it’s on the proposed assisted dying law, which was published this week.
He calls it “one of the most consequential pieces of legislation to this country’s make-up” – and says he is concerned about the “short space of time” set aside for a second reading and vote on the bill later this month.
The Wetherby and Easingwold MP urges Sir Keir Starmer to allow two days (16 hours) of “protected time” in the Commons to “examine and debate” the legislation before the vote.
Sir Keir does not directly commit to this, but says there are “strongly held views on both sides of the debate” and every member “needs to decide for themselves how they will vote”.
The decisive vote is due on 29 November.
Analysis: Farage forced to laugh along – as Badenoch fails to make desired impact
Nigel Farage got to his feet with no notes, asking whether the Iranian Revolutionary Guard will be proscribed a terrorist organisation, and pushing on Labour’s relationship with Donald Trump.
The PM was ready and waiting for Nigel Farage’s question.
He thanks him for his “rare appearance” at PMQs, and says he was “half expecting to see him on the immigration statistics”.
With no follow up, Farage can only laugh along.
As for Kemi Badenoch, I’m not sure it was the stellar performance her peers had hoped for.
She did have a few decent lines about a “copy and paste” government, but in the chamber it felt like her attacks weren’t landing as effectively as they might have.