Chagossians could get legal veto over ‘surrender deal’ with Mauritius after peers vote for draft bill

The British Sovereignty Protection (Chagos Islands) Bill cleared the second reading stage in the House of Lords today.

It would give Chagossians a veto over any deal.

Four Chagossians settled on the archipelago earlier this year to protest at Labour’s plans to hand sovereignty to Mauritius.

The descendants of thousands more have settled in the UK after they were forcibly removed in the 1960s and 1970s.

The new law would mean that sovereignty transfers require a referendum of Chagossians, an Act of Parliament and approval by the islands’ own administration.

Earlier this week, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested Labour will push ahead with negotiations to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

He told MPs he was looking at the issue “with a fresh pair of eyes”.

Mr Streeting added: “Having looked at this whole issue with a fresh pair of eyes, I’ve reached the same conclusion as every Prime Minister since Boris Johnson, including this one, which is the capabilities provided by that base makes it extremely unwise and a risk not worth taking to have legal uncertainty.

“That is why efforts to negotiate a treaty continue, and they (the Conservatives) may disagree now.

“If they do, they should explain why Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and (Rishi Sunak) were all trying to achieve the same outcome.”

Speaking to GB News before the vote, a Foreign Office spokesman said: “Securing the long-term operation of Diego Garcia remains a top priority for the Government, and protecting the base is the very reason for the agreement with Mauritius.

“We will continue to work with the US and Mauritius to find a way forward that is in the UK’s best interests and protects our national security.

”A Government source added that ministers’ position in relation to the private members bill will be “set out during the second reading debate tomorrow, as is the usual process.”