Philippe Sands – Starmer’s close friend who has acted for Mauritius on the Chagos case for many years – has today said that the deal proposes no risk of Chinese expansion because Mauritius won’t do anything without India’s permission. Sands claimed the deal was “a win-win for everyone.” Not least himself seeing as he was paid out of a pot of over £8 million…
Sands falsely claimed to an obsequious James O’Brien on LBC that the Chagos archipelago is “now part of the sovereignty of Mauritius.” He also said the fate of the islands is up to India now:
“I mean, if the International Court of Justice had given its ruling and it hadn’t been followed, then there would have just been uncertainty and insecurity and a lack of stability. And that is the kind of vacuum into which others insert themselves. But the reality is, if you’ve been to Mauritius, it’s a country whose closest, you know, colleague is India. It doesn’t do anything without India giving the get-go, and saying yes, you can do that. India’s been deeply involved in these negotiations, and there’s no way India is going to allow Mauritius to give any of its islands, and it’s got plenty to give away if it wanted to, to China. So the Chinese thing, frankly, is a bit of a red herring.”
At least Sands is reassured…
In other news Sands was recently disqualified as an arbitrator from hearing a Cypriot-owned oil company’s claim against Turkmenistan due to a conflict of interest. Embarrassing…
Arrested this afternoon on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The Metropolitan Police released the following statement:
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview.
“This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
Developing…
Labour backbencher Brian Leishman didn’t hold back in the Commons this afternoon after Darren Jones confirmed ethics adviser Laurie Magnus would investigate Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons over the Labour Together smeargate scandal. He fumed:
“We all know that Labour Together helped mastermind the prime minister’s own personal rise to the highest office in the land. And that they stand accused of running an orchestrated campaign to smear and discredit journalists. I think the prime minister should be here in this house answering questions, but my prediction is that day will come. Does the frontbench agree with me and an ex-founder of Labour Together when I quote him in saying that this is some dark sh*t?”
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle gave him quite the telling off. Meanwhile, John McDonnell shouted “whitewash” as Jones confirmed Magnus would only look at Simons’ conduct as a minister – not his actions while running Labour Together. Anger on the backbenches…
First Minister of the Chagossian Government Misley Mandarin has given the US permission to strike Iran using Diego Garcia. He said from the Chagos Islands:
“These are dangerous times and so I must be absolutely clear …. If the United States decides that action is needed to defend international order, then as the elected Government of these islands, we give our permission for the use of Diego Garcia in defence of peace, secured through strength.”
Meanwhile Labour is still refusing to say Trump can use UK military bases for any strikes…
Read Mr Mandarin’s statement in full below:
Continue reading “Chagossian First Minister Gives Trump Permission to Strike Iran From Diego Garcia”
It’s the month from hell for Josh Simons – former head of Starmerite operation Labour Together and now a minister – who has texted crucial details of the government’s investigation into him to every Labour MP elected in 2024. He wrote in a deleted mass text reported by Politico:
“Jonny rang, PM will ask Laurie to look in to it. Aim is to move fast. But PET did find I had not broken the code.”
That’s chief whip Jonathan Reynolds, the PM’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests Laurie Magnus, and the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team. Simons is a Cabinet Office minister…
Downing Street and the Cabinet Office have so far kept shtum when it comes to details of any investigation. Take it from the horse’s mouth…
UPDATE: Chief Secretary to the PM Darren Jones tells the Commons: “The Prime Minister has been advised that the matter should be referred now to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, which the Prime Minister has done today.”
Starmer was read out a list of his 13 U-turns on BBC Radio 2, to which he responded:
“Well, I am a common sense merchant.”