Conservative Union Research Unit

A group of former and current back bench Conservative & Unionist Party MPs committed to strengthening the United Kingdom. Est July 2020.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Our positive vision for the 🇬🇧UK

"of working together, overcoming challenges and being a force for good in the world...[of] hope for a young generation, not an inheritance torn apart by borders, or dragged down by new currencies mired in debt."

https://t.co/xEy8smbLWS

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[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Good to see this in the HoL Private Members Bill ballot.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Welcome to X!

[BIOTA @BIOTGov]

You may have read a lot about the #BritishIndianOceanTerritory recently. If you'd like to learn more about #BIOT directly from those governing it - that’s us: the BIOT Administration. Follow along as we start posting about the Territory; it’s a special place. If you can’t wait for our next post, take a look at our website https://t.co/cxoxOGlYy6

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

🚨 IMPORTANT 🚨
A delay on the #Chagos Bill until at least the next session of Parliament may be on the cards.

A great outcome if it is indeed true.

[Martina Bet @martinabettt]

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.”

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

No surprise to anyone who understands business and the drinks sector that @BritGlass, the WSTA, #SIBA and others have said proposals to include glass in the Welsh DRS:

“risks creating serious disruption for consumers, businesses and recycling systems”

https://t.co/L1xGmIiUi2

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Fresh rumours are circulating about the date of the #ChagosIslands JR - raising important questions of who knows what, how and if that is proper.

So a timely reminder of why #InternationalLaw, even if it exists and applies here, is insufficient.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

The recent visit by @pritipatel to the 🇺🇸USA has borne fruit - questions about the #ChagosSurrenderDeal keep coming.

It just doesn’t make sense - in law, economically or in terms of security and global stability.

[Senator Ted Cruz @SenTedCruz]

I am deeply alarmed that the United Kingdom is prepared to transfer the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

This deal is dangerous to U.S. interests, and President Trump is right to be furious at the U.K.’s decision.

My full questioning at today's SFRC hearing: https://t.co/h98N4OJbGc

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Well said, @mimsdavies!

Giving 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Wales an exemption for glass from a 🇬🇧UK wide #DepositReturnScheme is a really terrible decision that:

❌ Hurts consumers
❌ Increases producer costs
❌ Risks jobs in Wales

… and fragments the 🇬🇧UK’s Internal Market.

[Welsh Conservatives 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @WelshConserv]

Welsh Labour's Deposit Return Scheme is out of step with the rest of the UK and risks disrupting supply chains, detering future investment and hampering growth.

@mimsdavies challenges the Secretary of State for Wales to protect the UK from this separatism.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

🚨 BREAKING🚨

The 🇬🇧 UK government’s lawyers have decided international law permits the use of bases on #DiegoGarcia and RAF Fairford for strikes against Iranian missile depots.

When they start issuing cease and desist letters we’ll know it’s getting really serious…

[Alex Wickham @alexwickham]

Here is the summary of the legal position just published by the UK government justifying giving the US basing support for strikes on Iranian missile deports:

“The legality of defensive action in respect of Iranian regional attacks

The UK condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless and ongoing indiscriminate attacks against countries in the region. Such actions demand a united response to restore peace and security and prevent further escalation of the conflict.

As well as defending itself and its position in the region, the UK is acting in the collective self-defence of regional allies who have requested support. The UK and its allies are permitted under international law to use or support force in such circumstances where acting in self-defence is the only feasible means to deal with an ongoing armed attack and where the force used is necessary and proportionate.

Accordingly, the UK has military assets flying in the region to intercept drones or missiles targeting countries not previously involved in the conflict. In addition, the UK has responded to a US request which will facilitate specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies.

The UK’s actions and related support to its allies is solely focussed on ending the threat of air and missile attacks against regional allies unlawfully attacked by Iran and who have not been involved in hostilities from the outset. It does not signal the UK having any wider involvement in the broader ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.

The UK remains of the view that a negotiated solution should be supported, and that further escalation into a wider regional conflict should be avoided.

The Government will notify the United Nations Security Council of relevant actions taken under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

The @Telegraph leading the way with reporting from the frontline.

https://t.co/5Nfs2fKVZB

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

The nub of the matter:

Why did the @UKLabour government claim imminent legal threat to the security of the #Chagos Islands at the despatch box, only to concede that has never been the case in a written answer some months later?

We should know in the next few days.

[Sir Edward Leigh MP @EdwardLeighGB]

There is no legal substantiated threat to our ownership of Diego Garcia. We have an opt out under s.298 of UNCLOS.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Well done Facts4EU and @pritipatel for chasing this down.

https://t.co/kH45DAnvjT

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

🚨GIBRALTAR - UPDATE🚨
Reports say the @UKLabour gov has ceded control of the British Overseas Territory #Gibraltar’s borders to the #EU.

Brexit/NI, #BIOT and now this.

When we send people who neither care nor understand 🇬🇧UK sovereignty into negotiations, our interests suffer.

[Brexit Facts4EU.Org @Facts4euOrg]

GIBRALTAR EXCLUSIVE: Sovereignty sacrificed in huge Treaty hidden from MPs - Shadow Foreign Sec Priti Patel tells us it's “dodgy cover-up”.

“The Spanish & EU have been meticulously briefed.”- Priti Patel, Washington DC.

Explosive story: https://t.co/qUjKlCcGB2
Pls re-post!

[Chagos Islands Government in Exile @BiotCitize56752]

Article 18 of the Chagos Islands Treaty states: the agreement only takes effect after ratification

Until that happens, there is no binding Treaty

Mauritius cannot enforce or 'claim rights' over an agreement that legally doesn’t exist

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Various sources (@SkyNews and others), reporting Yvette Cooper meeting with Marco Rubio in Washington.

This comes amid 🇺🇸US concerns over the #Chagos Islands deal and 🇬🇧UK's stance on using #DiegoGarcia for potential 🇮🇷Iran strikes.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Great developments for all following the #ChagosIslands saga.

And a good moment to thank @pritipatel for her work - amongst others - on this issue, from her place on the #Opposition Front Bench.

#Chagos

[Priti Patel MP @pritipatel]

BREAKING NEWS:

The US delegation that was due to visit Mauritius on 24 and 25 February has postponed its trip, according to the Mauritian Government.

This is tremendous news for everyone who believes in British sovereignty. It is another humiliation for Keir Starmer’s and another sign that his appalling Chagos Surrender is dead in the water. It cannot pass without American support, and that is why the Conservatives have worked so hard to lobby our allies in the US to oppose it.

It’s time for Starmer to scrap his Surrender once and for all.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

With UK legislation paused following President Trump’s intervention on #Chagos, a former advisor to @DavidLammy thinks the #SurrenderDeal is “…not quite ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ but is looking tricky…”

Trump anger as UK blocks raid on Iran: https://t.co/Sw6UWEBXxw

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

This kind of tenacious and dogged engagement, deep within layers of foreign governments is often overlooked.

It won’t get the attention or praise it deserves. But it’s the vital legwork of the best statesmen and women.

And more encouraging to read than a headline.

#Chagos

[Kemi Badenoch @KemiBadenoch]

CHAGOS UPDATE: Iain Duncan Smith has briefed me on his meetings this week with the Department for War, State Department, NSC and the White House on stopping the Chagos Surrender.

My Shadow Foreign Secretary @pritipatel is flying to Washington this weekend for further meetings.

The Conservative team will do all we can to stop this terrible deal, force the PM into another U-turn and protect our national interest! 🇬🇧

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

Inevitable but welcome.
🇬🇧🇮🇴

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer has delayed the legislation handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius so the UK can "pause for thought" after Donald Trump attacked the deal

[@POLITICOEurope]

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

A little reminder…

[Conservatives @Conservatives]

David Lammy: “If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.”

This should be open and shut. The Chagos Surrender cannot go ahead.

[Conservative Union Research Unit @ConservativeURU]

There appears to be little coverage of this developing story from broadcast media (@BBCNews?) and broadsheets.

The @Telegraph a notable exception?

https://t.co/TllEhYVLsC