The early morning delay to Keir Starmer’s surrender of the Chagos Islands has been quashed by the High Court in a new ruling this lunchtime, giving him the go-ahead to hand over the overseas territory. Addressing the High Court, Mr Justice Chamberlain says: “I have concluded that the stay granted by Mr Justice Goose should be discharged and there should be no further interim relief.
A Government spokesperson welcomed a High Court ruling paving the way for the Chagos Islands deal to be signed, saying the agreement is “vital to protect the British people and our national security.” However Priti Patel, the Tory shadow Foreign Secretary, said the day’s events were the actions of a “shameful” government. Ms Patel fumed: “They have ignored them and are disgracefully forcing force through the surrender of the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and handing over billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to Mauritius.”
“Instead of coming to the House of Commons to explain themselves, both Keir Starmer and David Lammy are in hiding. Let’s be in no doubt, the Chagossians have been betrayed by Labour and their cowardly actions. Labour have broken promises made to protect their rights.”
The ruling was forced after a high court judge blocked the Government from proceeding with signing over the Chagos Islands at 2.30am.
Campaigners forced a delay over human rights grounds, warning that Chagossians had not been properly considered as part of the deal with Mauritius.
The legal action claimed that the government failed in its legal duties to consult properly, act fairly, and consider the profound consequences for the Chagossian people.
It also references admissions made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in earlier legal correspondence, in which he stated he is “binding his own hands” and has refused to negotiate in the interests of Chagossians, campaigners claimed.
Philip Rule KC, appearing on behalf of one of the two British women born on the islands and who successfully forced the delay overnight, said there had been a wider problem in bringing the challenge due to a cyber attack on the Legal Aid Agency earlier this month.
The High Court heard that the Chagos Islands deal is “time-critical” but could still be completed today if the overnight delay were overturned.
A document submitted to the court by the Government said: “The agreement can be concluded today and it does not necessarily have to be at 9am.”
Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Foreign Office, told the courts that “damage has already flowed” from the late-night delay to the handover signing.
He said: “The national security angle is obvious.”
“The British Indian Overseas Territory includes Diego Garcia, and Diego Garcia is an essential and utterly important base from which the United States and the United Kingdom, very often jointly, operate, and therefore the preservation of that facility is of the utmost importance to UK national security.”
He added that “everybody [in Downing Street] is standing by” for a decision, which had to be made by 1pm today if the handover was going to take place on Thursday.
Responding to this afternoon’s ruling that the injunction should be discharged, Rupert Lowe MP blasted: “The High Court has given the green light. The Chagos Island surrender will go ahead.”
“A total and utter humiliation for Britain.”
LibDem MP Al Pinkerton said: “This was a David and Goliath encounter. On this occasion, Goliath has won.”
