Nigel Farage accused of ‘cheap stunt’ after being ‘denied entry’ to Chagos Islands

The Foreign Office website makes clear the restricted access of the British Indian Ocean Territory and clearly states ‘you need a permit before you travel’

View Image

Nigel Farage flew to the Maldives at the weekend

Nigel Farage has been accused of “cheap stunt” after moaning about being denied entry to the Chagos islands by the British government.

The Reform chief, who flew to the Maldives over the weekend, said he had attempted to join a voyage to send aid to a group of Chaggosians on the island of Ile du Coin. It follows his pal Donald Trump’s latest U-turn on the Chagos islands deal which will see the British cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. It will then lease back the largest island, Diego Garcia – the site of a US-UK military base.

Pointing at a small boat he was due to board in a video posted on X, the MP for Clacton Mr Farage said: “I have been denied entry to the Chagos Islands by the UK government.” He added: “The British government are applying pressure on the President, on the government of the Maldives to do everything within their power to stop me getting on that boat and going to the Chagos islands. If I was in an Isis fighter crossing the Channel to Dover, they wouldn’t give a damn.”

But the Foreign Office website makes clear the restricted access of the British Indian Ocean Territory. It states: “The British Indian Ocean Territory is not a tourist destination. There are no commercial flights, access is restricted and you need a permit before you travel.” The Mirror understands the UK government was not notified in advance of the Reform chief’s intention to to travel to the Chagos islands.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Ex-Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace described Mr Farage’s move as a “cheap stunt”. He added: “No MP can visit without pre-clearance. It is a serious military base which does serious work. It doesn’t need a pub bore like Nigel (who didn’t even appoint a defence spokesperson this week) performing MAGA stunts”.

An FCDO spokesperson said: “Our primary concern at this point is to ensure the safe departure of a group of individuals from an island that is not fit for human habitation, and on which any health emergencies or extreme weather could pose a serious threat to life.”

Article continues below

On Tuesday the US State Department said it supported the British government to proceed with the agreement with Mauritius. But the flip-flopping US President Mr Trump then described the deal as a “big mistake”.

He said: “I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that leases are no good when it comes to countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 year lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ right, title and interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.” The Government has said the future of the base has been threatened by recent international court decisions.