Andy Burnham has sparked renewed concerns about a potential handover of the Chagos Islands by confirming that Jonathan Powell, the architect of a previous agreement to cede sovereignty, will remain as national security adviser.
Burnham, who is widely expected to succeed Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party on July 20, stated his intention to retain Powell in his Downing Street role. Powell led the government's negotiations with Mauritius concerning the accord to transfer sovereignty of the strategically important Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Under the terms of the proposed deal, Britain would cede the archipelago to Mauritius and then lease back the vital UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island, for a period of 99 years. Government figures suggest this would involve payments averaging approximately £101 million annually to Mauritius, totaling around £3.4 billion over the lease term.
Critics, however, have voiced opposition, arguing the actual cost could escalate to £35 billion. They have also expressed apprehension about granting control of the islands to Mauritius, which is perceived by some as an ally of China. Parliament's ratification of the agreement was previously halted earlier this year after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his support.
The continuation of Powell in his role has led to growing unease that Burnham may seek to advance the Chagos Islands deal once in office. This concern is amplified by the fact that Burnham had previously considered appointing Olly Robbins, the former Brexit negotiator, as national security adviser. A different appointment might have signaled a formal abandonment of the Chagos Islands agreement.
Powell's tenure has also been marked by controversy surrounding his unpublicized visits to China for discussions on security matters, as well as the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. These trips, which became known only after a press release from Beijing, were met with a lack of transparency from Downing Street regarding the details of the conversations. This was the second known instance of Powell traveling to China for such meetings, following a prior engagement in November.
Powell, who previously served as Tony Blair's chief of staff, has been referred to by some Members of Parliament as Labour's 'de facto foreign secretary.' Burnham himself wrote in The Times that he would "surround myself with the best and most experienced advisers when it comes to national security" and that this included keeping Powell. He emphasized the need to prepare for "a growing and evolving threat" using the nation's ingenuity and talent.