Long-awaited Chagos Islands deal set to be signed by Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer is set to sign off on the long-awaited Chagos Islands deal and hand them over to Mauritius.

It is understood that the official agreement will be made on Thursday, after several weeks in which it appeared to be on hold over political difficulties.

The government has argued that it has to give up sovereignty over the islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, due to international legal rulings in favour of Mauritius.

The prime minister is due to attend a virtual ceremony alongside representatives from the Mauritian government on Thursday morning to sign off on the deal, according to The Telegraph.

Under the terms of the deal, Britain is expected to give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius and lease back a crucial military base on the archipelago for 99 years.

Following the signing ceremony, MPs will be updated on the terms of the deal in the House of Commons, which could include a 40-year extension to the lease of the military base, the Telegraph said.

Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, is home to a joint UK-US military base, used to project Western influence in the Indian Ocean.

Critics of proposals to hand over the islands to Mauritius fear the move will benefit China, which has a growing reach in the region.

News reports recently suggested the deal had been delayed, with The Times claiming it had become “toxic” amid criticism from Labour’s political opponents.

The Conservatives are among those who have criticised Labour’s handling of the negotiations, although they began discussing the handover with Mauritius when they were in power.

Speaking in the House of Commons just this week, defence secretary John Healey insisted the base on Diego Garcia was “essential to our security” and the UK’s security relationship with the US.

“We’ve had to act, as the previous government started to do, to deal with that jeopardy. We’re completing those arrangements and we’ll report to the House when we can,” he said.

Moscow airports briefly shut after Russia claims it downed hundreds of drones

Airports in Moscow were briefly shut on Wednesday, after Russia claimed it shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones.

In a series of announcements, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Telegram that at least 376 Ukrainian drones were intercepted or destroyed on Wednesday.

Most were over Russia’s western regions bordering Ukraine and central Russia. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 27 drones were destroyed or intercepted en route to the capital.

As a result, the region’s three major airports briefly halted flights twice during the day before resuming operations.

It comes after Ukraine’s military said in a statement that it had struck the Bolkhov semiconductor plant in Oryol Oblast overnight.

The plant is one of Russia‘s leading producers of semiconductor devices and components, focusing on diodes, microcircuits, optoelectronic switches, and more, the General Staff said.

Unverified footage published online appeared to show the plant on fire. The region’s governor initially claimed there had been no damage from the attack, but subsequently admitted that the plant and several buildings were damaged.

Tommy Robinson charged with harassment causing fear of violence

Tommy Robinson has been charged with harassment causing fear of violence against two journalists.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of two counts of harassment causing fear of violence between 5 and 7 August last year.

The 42-year-old will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 5 June, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Wednesday.

A CPS spokesperson said: “We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 42, with harassment causing fear of violence against two men.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”

Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe recorded making ‘antisemitic’ remark in leaked video

Former Reform UK MP has been recorded making an “antisemitic” remark during a meeting in parliament this year, it has emerged.

Video footage shows Rupert Lowe, who was suspended from the party after a bitter public spat with Nigel Farage, commenting in front of parliamentary staff.

In a leaked recording, obtained by The Guardian, Mr Lowe commented on the size of a camera being used to film him. “In days gone by, you’d call it a Jewish camera, but that would be politically incorrect. Because it’s so small,” Mr Lowe is recorded as saying.

Others present began laughing, before one reassured him the footage would not be shared and another joked that his “career would be over in a second”.

Responding to the resurfaced video, Mr Lowe said he could not remember making the comment. “But if it was said, it was clearly a joke as anybody reading it can understand,” he added.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews condemned the “bizarre and outdated antisemitic language” and said it played into the trope that Jewish people are frugal with money.

A spokesman said it “has no place in our politics” and called for an apology from Mr Lowe. Reform has been approached for comment.

Mr Lowe was suspended from Reform this year pending an investigation into his conduct and claims he had threatened violence against its chair, Zia Yusuf.

That came after he publicly criticised Mr Farage, accusing the party leader of having “messianic” tendencies, and Mr Lowe maintained he was the victim of a political hit job for speaking out.

The police have since dropped an investigation into claims Mr Lowe threatened Mr Yusuf, while the now independent MP has renewed his attacks on Mr Farage.

Mr Farage “is a coward and a viper and must never be prime minister”, he has since said.

Mr Lowe, a former MEP for the Brexit Party, has been toying with a defection to the Conservatives or the idea of forming a new right-wing party to rival the Conservatives.

He is a staunch right-winger and campaigns fervently on issues including illegal migration, grooming gangs and free speech.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight this month, Mr Lowe said he would join a reformed Conservative Party or form a new party with the backing of Elon Musk.

‘There is nothing left’: Three dead as southern France ravaged by floods

At least three people died after heavy rainstorms hit France’s Var region causing widespread flooding on Tuesday.

A couple in their 80s died in Le Lavandou on the coast, where the mayor described “scenes of war” after a “truly violent, nasty, incomprehensible phenomenon”.

Aged 85 and 84, the couple were swept away with their vehicle when trying to leave the area. The woman’s body remained trapped inside the wreckage as of Tuesday afternoon, Toulon public prosecutor Samuel Finielz said.

Another person died after becoming trapped in a car in Vidauban, according to local authorities. The 81-year-old was also swept away in her vehicle, and died after her vehicle dropped into a ditch on a submerged country road.

Only the driver was saved by a local councillor who happened to be there, Vidauban mayor Claude Pianetti said on Facebook, according to Le Parisien.

Reinforcements were sent, particularly from Bouches-du-Rhône and Alpes-Maritimes, to support the 200 firefighters who carried out around fifty operations, “including some for rescues and securing people,” the prefecture said.

The flooding has caused significant damage to the region in southeast France, causing power outages and damage to train tracks as water surged through the streets.

Roads and bridges suffered major damage in Le Lavandou, the commune’s mayor said. Le Lavandou sits around 30km (18 miles) east of St Tropez, and is a popular holiday spot on the French Riviera.

French forecaster Meteo France said an orange alert for thunderstorms and rain-flooding ended at 2pm in the Var region. Conditions are far more settled on Wednesday, with the rain making way for partial cloud, sun, and temperatures above 20 degrees, the forecaster’s website shows.

Gil Bernardi, mayor of Le Lavandou, said in a press conference according to Le Parisien that “255 mm of water fell in one hour, causing an enormous wave”, describing “torn-up roads” and “torn-down bridges”.

“There is nothing left, no electricity, no drinking water, no wastewater treatment plant,” the elected official also described.

The local prefecture on Tuesday began assessing the damage to the municipality, including “accessibility to drinking water, condition of the wastewater treatment plants, condition of the roads”. Authorities added that the La Môle/Saint-Tropez airfield was closed due to the flooding.

French president Emmanuel Macron extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the families and loved ones of those who died in the floods.

“To all those affected, I want to say that the Nation will be there, fraternal and united. There, with the relief forces, to overcome the coming hours. There, to rebuild,” he wrote on X.

From secluded bays to family-friendly shores, discover Costa Dorada’s beaches

Whether you prefer your sunbathing broken up by a spot of snorkelling, experiencing local culture, or simply blissfully uninterrupted – the Costa Dorada (locally known as Costa Daurada) has the perfect beach for you. With 50 miles of coastline, and 26 Blue Flag beaches, it doesn’t matter if you’re after calm waters, family-friendly facilities or adventurous water sports – there’s a sunspot that caters for every traveller.

What’s more, with Jet2holidays flying to the Costa Dorada from 12 UK airports and a range of two to five-star accommodation, it’s easy to get your beach break sorted. Jet2holidays is always giving you more, to help make planning and booking as smooth as possible. That goes for the PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments** option, 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage, and return transfers† that are included. Look out for Free Child Places***, and infants under two go free‡.

Here we pick out just some of the region’s gorgeous shores to delve into…

In one of the most picturesque and lively parts of Costa Dorada sits this almost two-and-a-half mile stretch of beach, lined with palms as well as the famous pine trees that give the area its name. It’s fab for everything from gentle strolls and paddles to more active games of volleyball, sand football and tennis. Other activities on offer include everything from shoreside Zumba classes to yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions. The slow slope of sand into sparkling waters makes it ideal for families with young children, while for the real water babies, the exhilarating Aquopolis waterpark is only a short walk from the beach. With plenty of bars, restaurants, toilets and shower facilities lining the pretty promenade, there’s no reason not to stay all day.

With over five miles of Blue Flag beaches, all with gentle waters, Cambrils makes an excellent family-friendly break. Great for water sports such as kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing – especially at the pristine Platja del Cavet Beach, where the Escola Nàutica water sports centre offers windsurfing lessons.

For something more laidback, head to Platja de la Llosa for a series of smaller, but equally beautiful, beaches and coves. Then why not potter around the picturesque, cobbled alleyways of the old town to sample delicious local dishes? While you’re in the area, take the opportunity to visit neighbouring Platja de la Pixerota in Mont-roig on the southern border of Cambrils, to enjoy breathtaking views out to the Gulf of Sant Jordi and learn about the fascinating Spanish Civil War bunkers situated in the middle of the beach.

As the tourist capital of the Costa Dorada and the epicentre of amusement and entertainment, Salou’s beaches are home to good times for kids and adults alike. And being so close to PortAventura World (one of Europe’s largest theme parks) means double the fun, when so many of Jet2holidays’ Experience More hotels include park entry, meaning staying and playing is on the cards. Don’t miss the stunning Llevant Beach, dotted with colourful sunloungers and umbrellas, where the sea is filled with kayaks and jet skis. In between sunbathing and water sports, you can also enjoy wandering along its pretty promenade of shops, restaurants and bars. For something a little more secluded, take the coastal path to the sand dunes, pine trees and shallow crystalline waters of Platja Llarga, which is great for snorkelling.

This charming beach town is as much a magnet to those looking for lazy beach days as it is for history lovers. A medieval castle forms the backdrop to a swathe of fine golden sand at Platja d’Altafulla, and it’s a stone’s throw from the famous Roman ruins at Tarragona. You can even borrow a book from the Bibliomar beach library, which also organises workshops and storytelling, or join a yoga or Pilates class on the sands.

Walk down to neighbouring Tamarit Beach, which has its own castle dating back to the 11th century, as well as some friendly beach bars for a cheeky cocktail. Also in the area is family-friendly Coma-ruga Beach in El Vendrell. Its clear waters, palm-lined promenade of restaurants, bars and shops, and natural thermal springs, make for a balanced beach break.

The soft, sloping sands make Platja La Paella a super-safe option for families with children who love spending all day in the sea. As for water sports, there’s a designated area for surfers, and a bespoke exit and entry point for jet skis. The nearby marina offers scuba diving, snorkelling, water skiing and boat trips. For those who prefer being on terra firma, there are kids’ playgrounds, and a sports zone with four volleyball courts and three beach football pitches, often hosting championships. In summer, sports camps and gymnastics sessions are held here.

One of the most unique beaches in the Costa Dorada, the sugar-like sands and translucent waters of l’Arenal are split into two parts. There’s the northern section with its promenade and the Base Nautica water sports resort, which offers dinghy sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. Then there’s the southern part, which can only be accessed via a listed Blue Trail footpath. Here you can enjoy magnificent dunes, marshlands and white pine woodlands around a more tranquil shore.

With Jet2holidays, you can book your trip to the Costa Dorada with lots of package perks thrown in to make getting away even easier. From a low £60 per person deposit* to PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments**, 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage per person to return transfers†, it’s all included. Families can make the most of Free Child Places*** while infants under two go free‡. And with flights included and the choice of two to five-star hotels, Jet2holidays is always giving you more. For more Costa Dorada travel inspiration, and to find and book your ultimate holiday, visit Jet2holidays. Plus, right now, myJet2 members can save £100 per person§ in The Big Jet2 Price Drop (correct at original publish date).

*On bookings made ten weeks or more before departure. Full payment required by balance due date. **Spread the cost over three interest-free payments. Available when booked online, for holidays under £2,000, departing within ten weeks. ***One free child place per two paying passengers. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply, please see www.jet2holidays.com/promotions#FCP2025 for further details. †Unless otherwise stated. ‡Applicable for all infants under the age of two years on the date of return. Infants are not entitled to a flight seat (they must be seated with a parent or guardian) or a 22kg baggage allowance. §£100 per person off holidays for myJet2 members departing until 15 November 2026. myJet2 members will need to be logged into their account at the time of booking for the discount to automatically apply. Book online, via our app, through our call centre or with your travel agent. Please note the discount is not applied to children travelling on a free child place. Terms and conditions apply, please see www.jet2holidays.com/promotions#100APRIL2025 for details.

What does Angela Rayner’s leaked memo reveal about Labour’s plans?

A leak of a memo from Angela Rayner to Rachel Reeves reveals that the deputy prime minister would prefer a tax on the (relatively) wealthy than cuts in public services. Not exactly a shocker, and hardly a surprise to the chancellor, but an interesting insight into the dynamics of government, and what this year’s public spending review and the autumn Budget may hold.

The leak comes just as the prime minister indicated a partial U-turn on the means testing of the pensioners’ winter fuel payment.

She wants a little more social justice in fiscal policy. Specifically, last year she urged the chancellor to raise £3-4bn from miscellaneous tax hikes rather than, say, chopping disability benefit entitlements.

Her ideas were to: increase corporation tax on the banks; freeze the threshold on the 45 per cent income tax rate; eliminate the remaining (£500) tax-free allowance on dividend income; and limit the amount people can put into their pension funds before being taxed.

Nothing. Some of the Rayner proposals would have been more trouble – in political terms – than the revenue they raised, and would have perverse consequences. Limiting the lifetime allowance on pensions, for example, would probably mean more well-paid GPs retiring early and increasing waiting times at surgeries. The self-employed would also be disproportionately hit by another tax on their dividend income; freezing thresholds further would add to existing distortions in the tax system.

Besides all that, Reeves is determined that she and her party lose the “tax and spend” image and she is intensely conscious of the overall tax burden being at post-war highs (albeit personal taxation in the UK is still comparatively light by European standards).

No doubt Rayner opposed the cuts in the first place, but bound by collective responsibility and in the crisis atmosphere of the immediate post-election period, she went along with it. So the U-turn will be highly welcome to her, but it reveals the deep disquiet about the policy within the Labour Party. Recent local election results, the loss of the Runcorn by-election and poor polling figures have forced the hands of the prime minister and his chancellor. The changes to winter fuel allowance were a constant complaint on the doorstep, and the most unpopular of all the things the government has done since it came to power.

In the context of the public finances, it also raised a tiny amount of money. The danger now is that Keir Starmer has raised expectations too high, and anything less than a complete reversal will only add further disappointment.

Well, we’ll find out on 11 June. The uptick in inflation isn’t helpful, as it will put pressure on departmental budgets and reduce the chances of more interest rate cuts (and thus the interest bill on the national debt). The Trump tariff, despite the recent deal, also adds to the pressures, but recent GDP growth has been better than expected. It was always going to be tight, however, because it will also have to accommodate higher defence spending, and the fiscal rules remain restrictive.

As a multi-year review, and with little room for manoeuvre, it will be highly vulnerable to unexpected shocks and political pressures, particularly on public sector pay awards and expected “efficiency savings”. Assumptions about AI and productivity gains may well be over-optimistic. In truth, it won’t be so very different from the situation that prevailed during the Sunak government – including strikes.

It would be a surprise if taxes didn’t go up a bit, and the chancellor will be hard-pressed to meet her rules on borrowing and debt. But the markets have shown that they’re not going to cut her any more slack. She might try to find some extra funds by altering the way the Bank of England pays interest to the commercial banks as it operates monetary policy, but the Bank doesn’t like the idea, and it might not wash with investors, either.

Some of the pensioners will have an easier time paying their energy bills this winter, and the good news for Rayner is that she’s making good progress on building the 1.5 million houses promised for this parliament, but the general air of austerity will linger for some years to come.

Winter fuel payment cuts were a panic measure finally put right

There is usually never a good time for any prime minister to announce a U-turn. In the case of the cuts to pensioners’ winter fuel payments, it has long been clear that a reversal could not come soon enough. Sir Keir Starmer’s surprise announcement at Prime Minister’s Questions was, therefore, highly welcome.

The recent thumping Labour received in the local elections, the loss of the Runcorn and and Helsby by-election, the electoral threat posed by Reform UK, and poor poll ratings seem finally to have forced a government rethink.

Any possible political benefit the government might conceivably enjoy from a display of firmness of purpose in the pursuit of fiscal probity is vastly overwhelmed by the political damage inflicted by the decision to means-test the previously popular and universal benefit.

As politicians of all parties have attested in recent months, the winter fuel payment was raised consistently on the doorstep during the recent round of elections, and the pollsters have identified it as both the most high-profile of the government’s policies – and the most hated. Although the very poorest of our older citizens were protected (if they could navigate the forms), some pensioners who were far from comfortable lost £300 at a critical time.

The nation sensed it was the wrong thing to do, and certainly not what they expected from Labour, and reacted accordingly. Rachel Reeves may or may not think herself as the Iron Chancellor, but she has had to bend to public opinion. She now needs, without delay, to make the details clear – when it changes, and who will be eligible.

For a variety of reasons, not least the simple measure of fairness, the change of mind by the government is extremely welcome – and, perhaps, a sign that Labour may be regaining the sure political touch it showed in opposition.

In truth, means-testing the winter fuel payment was an act of panic by the chancellor when she discovered the notorious £22bn “black hole” in the public finances soon after taking office last July. Prematurely ending the new government’s honeymoon, she took immediate action, including the cuts to the payment. She presented this as the fault of the Sunak administration – which may have been true, and perhaps she expected the public to vent their anger at her predecessor at the Treasury, Jeremy Hunt, for mismanaging the public finances. However, all chancellors have choices – and as this was Ms Reeves’s, she had to take accountability for it.

As a perverse way of raising the smallest amount of money for the maximum political damage, the move could hardly be faulted. In a full year, it would raise some £1.5bn, a tiny sum in a social security bill more than 15 times that amount, but it affected some 10 million older voters, and aroused intense public anger. Not so long after, it was spun that the prime minister himself, with hindsight, viewed the move as a mistake.

The presentational problem now is that Sir Keir’s unusual intervention during Prime Minister’s Questions to signal the shift in policy will raise expectations of a complete reversal, and that the universal payment of £300 will be restored later this year. Even though Sir Keir only committed to “more” – but not all – old age pensioners benefitting from the proposed changes, hopes will be high that the change of course will be fairly radical. Even if the rich are to be excluded from the payment, which would be relatively uncontroversial, it would serve the government ill if the new means-testing threshold were to be set at only a slightly higher level than at present.

Given that the decision has now been made, and given the small aggregate sums involved, the government would be wise to maximise the number of people who will have the payment restored. The continuing cost of living crisis and high energy bills, rising again this year, provide additional reasons and political cover for the chancellor to recover the situation. She should certainly clarify matters with a detailed statement as soon as possible. She doesn’t need another PR debacle, after all.

Ms Reeves might also take the opportunity to announce some sensible changes to the so-called tractor tax, such that genuine family farms can be protected by, for example, freezing any nominal inheritance tax liability until the agricultural land assets are disposed of.

Indeed, there are many other anomalies and injustices in the tax and benefits system that she and Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, could rectify at little cost and to some useful political benefit.

For now, though, the partial U-turn adds to the impressive list of recent foreign policy achievements and suggests that after an occasionally disastrous start, the Starmer administration is growing in confidence – and getting things done properly.