Chagos Deal Faces Setbacks as Government Loses Four Key Votes

Recent parliamentary sessions have witnessed significant setbacks for the UK government regarding the future of the Chagos Islands. These setbacks have emerged as negotiations to transfer sovereignty of the islands back to Mauritius face substantial challenges.

Key Defeats in Parliament

The government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, encountered four major defeats in the House of Lords concerning the Chagos Islands deal. Each defeat represents critical concerns from various political factions, complicating the proposed arrangements.

First Defeat: Lease Proposal

• The initial setback revolved around a proposal to lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for 99 years.
• The annual cost of this lease would amount to approximately £101 million.
• An amendment proposed that payments would cease if the military base at Diego Garcia became inoperable. This amendment was supported by eight votes.

Second and Third Defeats: Referendum and Costings

• The second defeat was caused by an amendment from the Liberal Democrats, which called for a referendum for Chagossians residing in the UK.
• The third parliamentary defeat came from a Conservative amendment requiring the government to disclose detailed cost analyses of the payments to Mauritius.

Final Defeat: Parliamentary Oversight

• The last vote against the government involved an amendment for parliamentary oversight on spending connected to the treaty.
• This amendment would grant MPs the authority to halt payments to Mauritius if the terms of the deal were violated.

Government’s Narrow Victory and Response

Despite the setbacks, the government did manage to defeat a proposal that contingency on a Chagossian majority referendum would be required before transfer of the islands.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel expressed concerns over the setbacks, describing them as “humiliating.” She criticized Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, indicating that national defense and security are at risk due to the ongoing negotiations.

Historical Context

Negotiations about the Chagos Islands between the UK and Mauritius began in 2022 during the Conservative administration. The islands, previously under French possession, were transferred to British control in 1814 and later formalized as the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965.

The local population was displaced in the early 1970s, leading to restricted access for anyone except military personnel. Mauritius has persistently sought recognition of its sovereignty over the islands, even approaching the International Court of Justice, which supported its claim that Britain must relinquish administration over the territory.