Politics · 21 February 2026

Priti Patel Heads to Washington to Undermine Starmer’s Controversial Chagos Deal

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel is travelling to Washington to meet senior figures in Donald Trump’s administration in a bid to derail Keir Starmer’s agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. She claims the deal weakens UK strategic interests and wants Trump’s team to help ensure the plan is "dead in the water," which has drawn criticism from US leaders and opposition politicians alike amid broader geopolitical tensions.

By BriefTea Editorial · 21 February 2026 at 9:15

Reported by GB News · How we write briefs

Get the app

More briefs

PoliticsBurnham to end indefinite jail terms by parliament's end PoliticsJames Cleverly steps down from the shadow cabinet to campaign for London mayor WorldIcelanders vote on restarting EU membership talks after 13 years PoliticsBurnham returns to parliament with budget, welfare, and cost of living challenges WorldFour EU countries advocate using Russia's frozen 210 billion euros for Ukraine PoliticsIreland will be united, says former PM Gordon Brown More politics stories → Browse all stories →