Carl McClean

EXCL: Labour’s handover Chagos deal is set to be kicked into at least next Parliament amid a deepening row with Donald Trump. Ministers are expected to formally put on hold the legislation, delaying a crunch battle in the Lords as tensions with Washington spiral. It means the Government can revive the Bill later in the next session of Parliament than forcing it through now under mounting pressure. The move comes after Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer earlier this year said talks with the US meant progress was being halted, before No10 insisted there was “no pause”. Kicking the Bill down the road buys time after US President Donald Trump slammed the plan, branding it a “great act of stupidity”. US sources have even suggested America could look at buying the islands if the agreement collapses. Under the deal, Britain would hand sovereignty to Mauritius and lease back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years at a potential cost of £30billion. A government spokesperson said: “Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security is and will continue to be our priority – it is the entire reason for the deal. “We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support. “We are continuing to engage with the US and Mauritius.”

🚨🚨 BREAKING: Multiple Hatzolah ambulances have erupted in flames in London's Golders Green neighborhood. There is no immediate word on the cause, but antisemitic arson is the immediate suspicion.

The system is completely rotten

Wars are only ever resolved through negotiation. It’s tragic that calm heads did not prevail in the US when the Omani Foreign Minister said, just hours before the bombing started, that a peace deal was within reach. And now hotheads in Iran think it’s a good idea to bomb Oman.