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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep381: Mary Kissel on Starmer giving away the Chagos Islands to no discernible purpose, surrendering strategic British territory in the Indian Ocean without extraEcting meaningful concessions or advancing national interests.

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Society & Culture, Arts, News, Books

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 28 January 2026

⏱️ 6 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Mary Kissel on Starmer giving away the Chagos Islands to no discernible purpose, surrendering strategic Britishterritory in the Indian Ocean without extracting meaningful concessions or advancing national interests.
1942 NYC STORK CLUB

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm John Bachelor with Mary Kistle, the mothership. That's the nation of the Great Britain now,

0:23.0

always depending upon the institutions to inspire us. I remember Mary how happy you were at Brown's

0:28.9

Hotel once upon a time. A wonderful experience, Mary and I recommend the tea time at Browns

0:36.3

and ask for all the pastures they've got.

0:39.2

They've got some whoppers.

0:40.2

Okay.

0:41.0

But that was then.

0:42.2

This is now.

0:44.0

Starmour is under severe pressure from his own vast majority in Parliament who want him replaced

0:51.8

by the mayor of Manchester.

0:53.6

That's at the home front.

0:55.9

Mr. Starrmer intends a successful embassy in China for business for his country, his troubled country.

1:03.0

At the same time, Mr. Starrmer is proposing giving the Chagos Islands that have been in the British possession since the 18th century, colonies, empire, giving them to Mauritius,

1:15.9

which was also in the British possession since the 18th century taken from France,

1:22.9

knowing that Mauritius is shot through with influence peddling out of China.

1:27.4

The Chagos Island contained Diego Garcia, which is a major strategic base in the Indian Ocean.

1:33.3

Nothing seems to persuade Mr. Starrmer that this is the wrong direction to follow, but it does

1:39.3

look very much like he's acting as a supplicant to China.

1:43.5

How do you see him, Mary? Well, it's just an unnecessary,

1:48.9

very damaging decision by Starmer to proceed with this course of action. You know, ironically,

1:56.0

John, the U.S. State Department greenlighted the deal last year, which tells you two things. Number one,

2:03.8

Secretary of State Rubio either got some very bad advice or two, there are so few political

...

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