Sir Keir Starmer has promised the Falkland Islands are ‘British and will remain British’, as the matter of control over the territory is ‘personal to him’.
The Prime Minister’s uncle almost died when his ship was hit by a torpedo during the Falklands War.
It took a week before his family learned that his mum’s brother Roger had survived the attack on HMS Antelope.
At Prime Minister’s Questions this week, Sir Keir brought up his family connection with the conflict after Lib Dem leader Ed Davey asked about Brexit’s impact on the South Atlantic archipelago.
The PM said: ‘My uncle nearly lost his life when his ship was torpedoed defending the Falklands, they are British, and they will remain British.
‘And sovereignty in Gibraltar is equally not to be negotiated.
‘Of course we will do everything we can to make it easier for all businesses to trade more freely so that we can grow our economy. I’ve been very clear about the Falklands, it’s personal to me.’
While the question was not directly linked to the deal to hand over control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, announced last Thursday, Sir Keir took the opportunity to hit back at critics who suggested it put other territories in doubt.
Despite the negotiations being started under the Conservatives, each of the party leadership candidates has criticised the government over the announcement.
The Telegraph has reported that the PM and his Foreign Secretary David Lammy could face a parliamentary vote before the handover is completed.
Sir Keir previously spoke about his link to the Falklands in a speech on defence last year, saying: ‘My mum’s brother, my uncle Roger, served in the Falklands on HMS Antelope and I remember the terrible wait when his ship was bombed.
‘My mum’s fear as she sat by the radio every day, listening for news, and then the relief, a long week later, when we found out he had survived.
‘So I know the courage, the service, and the sacrifice that allows us to sleep soundly at night from our forces and their families.’
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