Sir Keir Starmer’s Chagos “surrender bill” has suffered another massive blow after peers voted to kick it back to MPs. Members of the House of Lords overwhelmingly backed a vote to object to the treaty, which would see Britain forking out billions to return its own territory to another country.
The Upper House voted 201 to 169 in favour of a formal objection, known as a “regret motion”, which expressed disapproval with the treaty and has forced it back to the Commons where it must be debated again by MPs. Under the proposed terms of the deal, the United Kingdom will hand up to £30billion to Mauritius as part of a handover which former military chiefs have branded an act of “self-harm”.
In a letter signed by several former leaders of the military, it was argued that the base located there was an essential part of British national security. The letter, seen by GB News, said: “We also believe that the Labour Party has been disingenuous to the point of distortion and dishonesty in its presentation of the case for transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.”
Even the Chagossians themselves have protested the move, with the First Minister of the Islands accusing Labour of “losing moral bearings” and demanding peers reject the move.
Misley Mandarin wrote: “We live at a time when it feels like the UK Labour Government is losing its moral bearings in a way that threatens its connection with the electorate, a particular problem when one remembers it received less votes than when Labour lost the General Election in 2019.”
He added: “Indeed, notwithstanding its majority the current administration is backed by the votes of fewer British people than any government in recent times. One of the ways in which it seems to have lost its bearings is undoubtedly in relation to the Chagos Islands.”
The damning assessment comes as campaigners have called for US President Donald Trump to block the deal, pledging to name an island after him if he does so. The treaty would see Britain surrender the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, which is jointly operated with the United States and plays a crucial role in Western security operations in the Indian Ocean.
Critics have warned the move would hand a strategic advantage to China, which has close ties with Mauritius and could gain access to the region. The Government has insisted the deal protects the base for at least 99 years, but opponents argue it undermines British sovereignty and sets a dangerous precedent.
The bill will now return to the House of Commons, with MPs forced to debate and vote on it once again.