内容摘要：Felicity Afriyie has lived in temporary accommodation for 21 years with her three children aged 16, 19, and 20.

Felicity Afriyie has lived in temporary accommodation for 21 years with her three children aged 16, 19, and 20.

Western Sahara is a mineral-rich former Spanish colony that has been fought over for five decades in what is one of Africa's longest frozen conflicts.Morocco holds much of the 100,000 sq miles (260,000 sq km) of territory but part is controlled by the Polisario Front, an armed group seeking independence for the local Sahrawi people.

The African Union recognises Western Sahara's independence but in recent years, various countries have backed Morocco's position, including the United States, Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands.British diplomats said the UK had decided to follow suit but only in return for business deals and a new commitment from Morocco to support the principle of self-determination, publish a new version of its autonomy plan and restart negotiations.A procurement agreement between the two countries will "create a unique foundation for UK companies to access public tenders in Morocco", the UK Foreign Office said, pointing to deals in the health sector as well as contracts to upgrade Casablanca's airport.

The joint communique reaffirmed both sides' respect for "the non-use of force for the settlement of conflicts and their support for the principle of respect for self-determination".Previously the UK has always said the status of Western Sahara was "undetermined" and supported "self-determination" for the people there.

Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the change in British policy, saying it marked an historic moment in the two nations' 800-year-old relationship.

"It represents a genuine pivot toward a definitive resolution of the dispute," he said.Under the existing agreement (due to expire in 2026), EU vessels get access to UK waters to fish - in return for transferring 25% of their fishing quota - the amount they are allowed to catch - to UK fleets.

Some UK fishing groups have criticised the existing deal and do not want to see it extended.Elspeth Macdonald, who represents 450 fishing boats as chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation says: "This deal is a horror show for Scottish fishermen, far worse than Boris Johnson's botched Brexit agreement."

She says the long-term deal takes away the industry's bargaining power in future talks and would prefer annual negotiations with the EU.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says there will be "no increase in the amount that the EU vessels can catch in British waters" and says it will now be easier for UK fishermen to export their products.