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Andy Burnham was accused of being “as weak” as Sir Keir Starmer after reports that he will back the Chagos deal. The plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, then pay to lease back a joint UK-US military base, has been halted following criticism from Donald Trump.

But Mr Burnham, the prime minister-in-waiting, is said to be looking at reviving the controversial agreement. Sources told the Guido Fawkes website that he has been heavily influenced by national security adviser Jonathan Powell, who previously referred to the archipelago as “very tiny islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean where no one actually goes”.

Tory Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “It is staggering that Andy Burnham apparently wants to resuscitate Labour’s disgraceful Chagos surrender.

“This deal not only threatens our national security – it also stands to cost hard-pressed British taxpayers £35billion.

“Labour may be changing leaders, but they clearly remain a soft touch on the global stage, desperate to appease China.

“Burnham should leave this appalling deal where it belongs: on the ash heap of history. The Conservatives will keep fighting against it for as long as it takes.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp added: “This is not promising. Andy Burnham is shaping up to be as weak as Keir Starmer.”

The deal would see the UK give the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, but pay to lease back the key Diego Garcia military base.

But it has been paused indefinitely after criticism from Mr Trump, who branded it “an act of great stupidity”.

The Government has insisted the agreement is necessary to guarantee the future of the military base after an international court ruling in 2019 backed Mauritian claims to sovereignty of the archipelago.

But critics have warned of the eye-watering cost of the pact and that it could benefit China due to Beijing’s close ties to Mauritius.

Mr Burnham’s team has been contacted for comment.