Stop the Chagos Deal

We believe the Chagos Deal is a terrible disaster, and we find the cost unaffordable. We have concerns that it could harm the indigenous Chagossian people, and our national interests. We urge the House of Commons to block any legislation relating to this deal. We think MPs should stop it, all of it.

We are concerned that the United Kingdom could pay billions of pounds over decades, which we find alarming at a time when there have been cuts to services for the vulnerable. We are deeply saddened that people across the United Kingdom are suffering economically. We oppose any increases in taxation, as well as cuts to expenditure, until this Treaty is cancelled. We find it unfair to suffer the cost of the Treaty, especially as many of the indigenous people oppose it. We cannot afford this Deal.

This Government is deeply committed to the national security of this country. The Diego Garcia Military Base was at risk, and we acted to protect our national interests and prevent adversaries from gaining a foothold in a location of exceptional, and unique, strategic importance.

The Diego Garcia Military Base is vital to our defence and intelligence capabilities, and therefore to the safety and security of the British people. The Base is essential not only to UK national security but also to the security of our key allies. As the world grows more dangerous, so too does the importance of the base for our national security.

International courts were already making decisions in favour of Mauritius, threatening the continued operation of the Base, and its security. If Mauritius were to take us to court, we are unlikely to be successful in defending the UK’s position on sovereignty. Such a scenario would cause real-world operational impacts on the base. We would also have no basis to prevent China or other nations setting up installations on the outer islands or carrying out joint exercises near the base.

The Government has published the full forecasted costs of the Treaty and laid them in the House. The costs consist of a direct annual payment to Mauritius, a development fund, and a trust fund to benefit Chagossians. The forecast average cost per year was set out as £101 million.

The costs of this deal compare favourably to other international basing agreements, and other UK bases abroad.

The Chagos Archipelago has no permanent population and has never been self-governing. We have been clear in our regret for the manner in which Chagossians were removed from the islands in the 1960s and 70s. We recognise the importance of the islands to Chagossians as well as the different views amongst Chagossians - including several groups that welcome the deal.