Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories

Championing the Overseas Territories within the UK Conservative Party. Over 50 MP, Peers, MSP and MS parliamentary champions. Join today at

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Thanks to all who came to a packed @CFOT_UK reception tonight with great speeches from @jcartlidgemp @ArewRosindell and John Birmingham MLA @FalklandsRepUK @FalklandsinUK huge support for the OTs from @Conservatives

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

The end of Starmer’s Premiership brings to an end the shameful attempts to handover the Chagos Islands. We must now put in place a fair and just settlement for the Chagossians whilst restoring trust in the relationship between the UK and all OTs.

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Today is UK Overseas Territories Day - and we're proud to celebrate it. The UK's Overseas Territories are home to extraordinary communities, unique ecosystems and a rich diversity of cultures that are an integral part of what it means to be British.

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Great work by @BritishArmy @RoyalAirForce to support @TristanAdm @GO_ASHT #Britishfamily #OverseasTerritories Army medics parachute onto remote island to help Brit 'with rat virus' https://t.co/PcyBpVaywD

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

#Britishfamily #OverseasTerritories

[The Royal Family @RoyalFamily]

'I need hardly say that Bermuda, like all the overseas territories, is a most cherished and important member of the British family, with a friendship as solid as this so-called ‘rock'.'

At a Garden Party at Government House, The King addressed representatives of Bermuda’s society - from religious leaders and business executives, to community heroes and artists.

[Bermuda Government @BdaGovernment]

His Majesty The King received a warm welcome this morning in St. George’s.
🇧🇲🇬🇧

Crowds gathered in strong support, cheering and celebrating as the Royal Visit 2026 continues across the island.

[Sky News @SkyNews]

King Charles greets a waiting crowd in Bermuda as he arrives for a three-day royal trip on the Caribbean island following his state visit to the United States.

https://t.co/7aTzjxhnZy

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube

[Bermuda Government @BdaGovernment]

Bermuda welcomes HM King Charles III to the island.

HM The King was greeted by His Excellency the Governor, Premier David Burt, Opposition Leader and other dignitaries.

HM King Charles is visiting Bermuda from April 30 - May 1. We look forward to showcasing our island for King Charles and the whole world.

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Callum Murphy and Alex Brookes: Why the Falklands are central to the British Family and should remain so | Conservative Home https://t.co/32BHzCetIr

[ConservativeHome @ConHome]

From Callum Murphy and Alex Brookes @CFOT_UK Why the Falklands are central to the British Family and should remain so https://t.co/N7x71oZtKJ

[Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch]

The Falkland Islands are British…no matter what Donald Trump says.

We must defend British Sovereign territory, and to do that we must back our armed forces.

Only the Conservatives have a plan to reinstate the two child benefit, and use the savings to fund our military.

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

The Falklands is an integral and much valued member part of the British family. Its sovereignty is not up for negotiation - Labour must make this clear #Falklands https://t.co/mD0twtCec3

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Do not think that those that seek to harm the UK and undermine the shared security of the OTs are unaware of Labour’s "corrosive complacency" on defence as Lord Robertson put it this week.

#Falklands #Britishfamily #Overseasterritories

[SA Defensa @SA_Defensa]

📍#Argentina (🇦🇷)

The @FuerzaAerea_Arg welcomed high-ranking foreign representatives to visit their facilities to learn about the current capabilities of the Argentinian Air Force.

Notable nations include: #Brazil (🇧🇷), #China (🇨🇳), & #Russia (🇷🇺).

📸: @FuerzaAerea_Arg

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Finally, game over

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

EXCLUSIVE

Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to drop legislation which would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a further deterioration of relations with Donald Trump

The Times has been told that a bill underpinning the controversial deal will not be included in the King's Speech next month after the US president branded it an "act of great stupidity" and withdrew his support

The government stands by the deal and will attempt to persuade Trump to change his mind but has acknowledged that it cannot proceed without his backing

Ministers are "deeply frustrated" with Trump, who initially supported the deal after extensive discussions between intelligence agencies but changed his mind during a dispute with Nato over plans to seize Greenland

The government believes that it puts the future of Diego Garcia, the UK-US base in the islands which has been used during the Iran war, at risk

It is concerned that Mauritius will mount a legal challenge granting it access to the waters around Diego Garcia, making it harder for the base to host nuclear submarines and patrol surrounding waters

The deal was highly contentious. It would have seen Britain hand over the islands to Mauritius before immediately entering into a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia.

The government claimed it would cost £3.5billion, although the Tories disputed this and said it would cost £35billion his over its lifetime.

https://t.co/bUrK3Jj10R

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Great news - Starmer’s Chagos deal dealt major blow as judge rules Chagossians have right to live on disputed islands | The Independent https://t.co/1jIBITBWZX

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Chagos, Gibraltar and now Cyprus - clear that Labour is not able or willing to stand up and protect the rights of the OTs - Cyprus demands talks on Britain’s ‘colonial’ military bases https://t.co/Do53HOuwLA

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

First we had the Chagos surrender, then we had the Gib sell out, now we have renewed calls in Cyprus for the UK to give up its bases. This is a direct result of Labour’s woeful handling of the Iran crisis & its unwillingness to defend crucial UK interests. https://t.co/oXIRGgnd3Y

[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Republicans Press Trump to Kill U.K. Plan For Diego Garcia Military Base - WSJ https://t.co/alfES2CfPY

[David Wolfson @DXW_KC]

I disagree with Lord Hermer KC, the Attorney General. I don’t accept that international law requires our Prime Minister to deliver a pusillanimous statement setting out the UK’s position whose first point is “We did not participate”.

I’ve set out the gist of my approach below. ⬇️

The Prime Minister has refused publicly to support the US and Israel strikes, and also refuses to allow the US to use UK bases, because of international law advice he has reportedly received from Lord Hermer.

International law ought to provide a mechanism to restrain and, if necessary, end despotic and tyrannical regimes such as that in Iran. If the doctrines of international law prove unable to restrain Iranian terrorism and mass murder, and tie the hands of democracies while forcing them to stand and watch Iranian atrocities, international law will have failed. It will have become a fundamentally immoral system of law, and one which is worse than worthless in the modern world.

To be clear: I don’t believe that it is. I think international law is important, and both can and should provide a just legal order. I do, however, have serious questions as to the moral attitudes of some of its expositors; too many international lawyers serenely promote an analysis which ultimately protects tyrants.

Seven points, and some questions:

1 The inherent right to use force in the face of an imminent attack from a hostile nation which is responsible for a pattern of hostile actions exists for good reason: a country cannot be expected to remain idle and just wait for the next attack.

2 Iran has repeatedly threatened to attack the UK’s bases and personnel. Those threats come in the context of persistent Iranian attempts to launch attacks on UK soil, too; the Director General of MI5 has stated, and the PM confirmed last night, that the UK has responded to tens of Iranian-backed plots, presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents. There is also a constant barrage of cyberattacks; while not all cyberattacks are armed attacks in sense of Article 51 of the UN Charter, some may be, and all confirm not just hostile intent but action pursuant to such intent.

3 The UK’s long-standing allies, the US and Israel, were right to consider that they faced further attacks prior to their recent military action, given that (i) Iran has previously attacked both states directly and also through its many proxies; (ii) Iran has repeatedly stated its intent to destroy Israel; (iii) Iran was assessed to be on the brink of acquiring a nuclear capability with uranium enrichment at 60% (which can only be for military use); and (iv) Iran already possessed – as demonstrated by its recent attacks – a sophisticated and effective long-range delivery capability which Israel cannot fully neutralise with defensive weapons.

4 The acquisition of a nuclear capability by Iran represents a genocidal risk for Israel and its people. Iran’s repeatedly stated aim is to wipe the State of Israel, and its inhabitants, off the face of the earth. The slogan of the proxies through which Iran has often attacked Israel is: “God is greater, death to America, death to Israel, curse to the Jews, victory to Islam”. In these circumstances, whether they are characterised as part of an ongoing armed conflict with Iran or as a new use of force based on self-defence, Israel’s actions are justifiable.

5 The UK (and also the US) is permitted under international law to use force to aid another state which is acting in self-defence. Moreover, the UK is under an obligation in international law is to prevent genocide, not just to stop it: stopping an on-going genocide is required, but it necessarily means that action was taken too late.

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[Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories @CFOT_UK]

Perfect illustration that shows Brits wishing to enter Gib will be vetted by Spanish board guards in Spain & potentially refused entry. Sell out. Exact concerns raised here in 2024: https://t.co/YtJli0p3rl @GBCNewsroom

[GBC News @GBCNewsroom]

Arrivals at Gibraltar airport - GBC works out what they could look like.