UK signs £101m-a-year deal to hand over Chagos Islands and lease military base

Under the deal, the UK will lease back the Diego Garcia military base from Mauritius.

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The prime minister said the deal was the only way to maintain the base's long-term future and strengthened the UK's national security.

Under the terms of the agreement Mauritius would gain sovereignty of the islands from the UK, but allow the US and UK to continue operating a military base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia, for an initial period of 99 years.

The Conservatives described the deal as "an act of national self-harm", which left the UK "more exposed to China" because of its ties with Mauritius.

The UK signed the agreement after overcoming a last-minute legal challenge brought by two Chagossians.