Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer 'must go if Chagos surrender deal destroys alliance with Donald Trump's America', Nigel Farage says

Sir Keir Starmer "must go" if the Chagos deal "destroys" the UK's special relationship with the US, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed.

The special relationship appeared to reach a lower ebb yesterday after it was revealed that Donald Trump had lashed out at the Chagos deal over the UK blocking the US from launching air strikes against Iran.

It is understood that the UK refused to allow the US to conduct strikes against Iran from a British base on Diego Garcia and another military base in Gloucestershire.

Mr Farage responded by suggesting Sir Keir should be booted out of No10 if his £35billion handover deal risks damanging the special relationship.

The Reform UK leader said: "If Keir Starmer’s real obsession with getting rid of the Chagos Islands is to destroy our strong defence relationship with America, then his Government must go."

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to meet her US counterpart Marco Rubio during a visit to Washington today.

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Foreign Secretary to meet Donald Trump ally over Chagos row

Yvette Cooper is set to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC today, as the Foreign Secretary seeks to navigate a fresh diplomatic challenge over the Chagos Islands.

The meeting follows another dramatic shift in the American position on Britain's agreement to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago.

Just one day after Mr Rubio's State Department offered firm support for the deal, President Donald Trump publicly criticised the arrangement.

Ms Cooper will be aiming to restore American backing for the agreement during her discussions with Mr Rubio.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Luke Pollard is travelling separately for European defence talks.

He is attending an E5 gathering bringing together Poland, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has organised the meeting, with announcements anticipated during the morning.

REVEALED: The real reason behind Donald Trump's Chagos U-turn

Donald Trump lashed out at the Prime Minister's Chagos deal after the UK refused to give permission for the US to use British bases to support potential strikes on Iran.

The US has previously used RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, and the UK overseas territory of Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, to carry out strikes in the Middle East region.

A UK Government spokesman said: "As routine, we do not comment on operational matters."

RECAP: Keir Starmer pauses Chagos deal as reason behind Donald Trump's support U-turn revealed

Labour has paused its controversial plan to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after the UK did not agree to allow the use of British bases to attack Iran.

Sir Keir Starmer has been put under pressure to make his 16th U-turn after President Donald Trump last night rubbished the Prime Minister's Chagos "surrender" deal.

Now, the administration will "pause for thought" on plans to bring legislation underpinning the deal back to the House of Lords, reports Politico.

A senior Government official briefed on the plans and granted anonymity as they are not authorised to speak on the record said there will now be a "rethink."

The UK is yet to give permission for the US to use the bases in the event that the White House orders a strike on Iran, due to concerns that it would be a breach of international law, reports The Times.

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