Keir Starmer has halted the progression of the Chagos Islands bill in Parliament, following criticism from Donald Trump, who described it as “an act of stupidity.”
The Government criticized Tory peers for their actions in the House of Lords, which could have hindered the ratification of the UK-Mauritius deal granting sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after two centuries of British rule. The bill was slated to return to the House of Lords on Monday.
The process was put on hold shortly after President Trump’s remarks, where he suggested that the UK relinquishing sovereignty over the islands could be a reason for the US to consider taking control of Greenland, a statement he later retracted.
Amid concerns raised by Tory members about potential conflicts with a 1960s treaty affirming UK sovereignty over the Islands, the pause was implemented.
A Government spokesperson emphasized the importance of the UK-US base agreement on Diego Garcia for national security, condemning the actions of peers as irresponsible and jeopardizing national security priorities.
Labour Lords pointed out that the pause was a response to last-minute attempts by Tory peers to obstruct the bill’s progress, just before a scheduled debate.
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814, established as the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965. The native Chagossian people were forcibly displaced to accommodate a US military base on Diego Garcia.
Last year, the UK reached an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining control of the UK-US military base. The deal includes a 99-year leaseback of Diego Garcia, with an annual cost to the UK of £101 million. The Trump administration had previously praised the agreement.
Tory Shadow Home Secretary Priti Patel claimed credit for the legislative pause, calling it a victory against Keir Starmer’s “Chagos Surrender.” She criticized the deal, suggesting it benefits a Chinese ally and should be abandoned, vowing Conservative opposition to the surrender.
