‘Reform will RIP it UP!’ Farage could DEFY Trump with vow to IGNORE Starmer’s Chagos ‘surrender’

Nigel Farage and Reform UK have made it clear that they will reject the UK government’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK and MP for Boston and Skegness, has vowed that if Reform wins the next general election, they will rip up the deal and stop payments to Mauritius.

He described the agreement as the worst deal in history, arguing that the UK is giving away its own land while also paying Mauritius to take it. He insisted that when Reform comes into power, they will not recognize the deal, and serious discussions will take place regarding diplomatic relations, visas, and direct flights to Mauritius if the agreement is not reversed.

Nigel Farage also commented on the recent disagreement in the White House, calling it regrettable and warning that it makes Vladimir Putin feel like the winner. However, he stressed that the situation is far from over and that a peace deal remains essential. He emphasized that Ukraine must be provided with strong security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression.

Richard Tice echoed this sentiment, stating that everyone wants peace, but negotiations must be handled carefully and behind closed doors. He highlighted that most wars and conflicts end in some form of negotiation and that the focus must be on achieving a lasting and robust peace. He also pointed out that one of the key issues not being discussed enough is the $300 billion in frozen Russian state assets held by Western banks, which he believes should be used to help secure Ukraine’s defense and ensure long-term stability in the region.

Questions have been raised about where Reform UK truly stands when it comes to their support for Donald Trump, especially in light of the recent events. Some Reform supporters are divided, with some insisting that the UK must take a Churchillian stance and stand firm against Russian aggression, while others remain aligned with Trump’s approach to international negotiations.

Richard Tice dismissed any doubts, insisting that Reform UK has always been clear in their position that Putin is the aggressor and that there are no ifs, buts, or doubts about it. He maintained that the priority should be on securing long-term security guarantees and that European nations must finally step up and contribute more to defense spending.

He reminded people that Reform was the only party in the last general election to pledge an increase in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP within three years and 3% within six years. He argued that peace is only possible through strength and that the best way to ensure peace is to be fully prepared for war.

Despite concerns that Reform UK has been silent on these issues, Richard Tice insisted that this was not the case. He pointed out that he had personally spoken in the House of Commons last Thursday in strong support of Ukraine. He also reminded people that he has been directly involved in helping the Ukrainian cause, having donated a five-figure sum, purchased a 4×4 pickup truck, filled it with medical supplies, driven it to Ukraine, and delivered it to frontline soldiers. He stated that he had personally visited cemeteries in Ukraine and seen mothers weeping over the graves of their sons. He made it clear that Reform UK has been completely robust in its stance and rejected any suggestion that they were hesitant in their support for Ukraine.

When asked about Trump’s upcoming state visit to the UK, Richard Tice dismissed calls from some political figures to impose conditions on the visit, arguing that this would be absurd. He stated that the monarchy is one of the UK’s greatest assets in terms of soft power and that it should be used to strengthen relations with the United States.

He emphasized that President Trump has always been fond of the United Kingdom and the royal family, and that the UK should leverage this relationship to further its national interests. He argued that the UK should focus on long-term strategic goals with the United States, not only in terms of security and defense but also in trade and economic partnerships.

The handover of the Chagos Islands remains a particularly controversial issue for Reform UK. Richard Tice insisted that the UK government under Labour had failed to ask the United States to contribute financially to the agreement, making the deal even more unacceptable. He pointed out that the 1965 agreement between the UK and Mauritius involved a payment of £3 million at the time, which would be worth around £75 million today, in exchange for Mauritius giving up any potential claims to the islands. He argued that Mauritius is now in breach of that agreement and that Reform UK will not accept the deal under any circumstances. He insisted that when Reform wins power, they will stop payments, refuse to recognize the agreement, and make it clear that the deal is invalid.

When questioned about why President Trump appears to be relaxed about the deal, Richard Tice argued that Trump has far bigger issues on his plate, including Ukraine, China, North Korea, and Iran. He acknowledged that Trump has a large team dealing with various international matters but insisted that the reason the Chagos deal has not been a priority for him is that the UK government has not asked the U.S. to contribute financially. He suggested that Trump’s administration is likely to see the deal as a non-issue because they are not being asked to pay anything for it and because nothing will change for U.S. military operations in the region.

Concerns were also raised about how Reform UK will handle trade negotiations with the United States if Trump returns to office. Some fear that Trump could impose tariffs on UK goods, particularly if he enforces trade restrictions on the European Union, which could have knock-on effects for Britain. Richard Tice acknowledged that Trump will always negotiate hard for America, but he insisted that the UK must do the same and fight for its own interests.

He argued that Brexit has put the UK in a strong position to negotiate its own trade deals and that the current Prime Minister is already leveraging that advantage. He pointed out that the UK is playing a key role in facilitating discussions between the U.S. and European leaders on Ukraine, which demonstrates the strategic benefits of Brexit. He expressed confidence that the UK could secure trade wins through a partial trade deal with the U.S. and that a second royal visit could further strengthen the UK-U.S. relationship. While he admitted that there are no guarantees, he believed that the strong relationship between the two nations would significantly reduce the risk of tariffs being imposed.

Richard Tice also took the opportunity to criticize those who had predicted that Brexit would leave the UK isolated on the international stage. He argued that claims that the UK would have no influence over NATO and European security have been proven completely false. He insisted that Britain must focus on its own national interest, particularly when it comes to the Chagos Islands. He made it clear that Reform UK will not allow the giveaway to continue and that if the deal has not been fully signed and sealed by the next election, Reform will ensure it does not go ahead. He warned Mauritius that if they do not reverse the deal, there will be consequences, including restrictions on visas, direct flights, and diplomatic relations.

Reform UK remains firm in its opposition to the Chagos deal, its call for increased defense spending, and its commitment to leveraging Brexit for better trade deals. While the party acknowledges Trump’s influence, it is prepared to stand its ground on key issues, including UK sovereignty and national security.