Keir Starmer has halted the progress of the Chagos Islands bill in Parliament following criticism from Donald Trump. The Government criticized Tory peers for attempting to disrupt the bill’s ratification deal with Mauritius. The agreement, signed in May, aimed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after being under British control for two centuries. The bill’s return to the House of Lords on Monday was postponed shortly after Trump’s remarks, suggesting the US should take control of Greenland due to the UK relinquishing sovereignty over the islands.
Tory concerns surfaced about a potential conflict with a 1960s treaty affirming UK sovereignty over the Islands. A Government spokesperson emphasized the importance of maintaining the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia for national security. Labour Lords expressed discontent over the last-minute wrecking amendment by Tory peers, accusing them of interfering with government legislation.
The Chagos Islands have been British territory since 1814, with the BIOT established in 1965 after the removal of native Chagossian people to allow the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia. Last year, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The deal includes a 99-year leaseback agreement for Diego Garcia costing the UK £101 million annually. Priti Patel claimed credit for the legislative pause, denouncing the deal as a “Chagos Surrender” that should be abandoned, highlighting Conservative opposition to the agreement.