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High court judge blocks UK from concluding Chagos Islands deal UK to conclude Chagos Islands deal after court lifts last-minute injunction
(about 1 hour later)
Government had been due to give green light to deal handing sovereignty of islands to Mauritius Government due to give green light to deal handing sovereignty of islands to Mauritius
A high court judge has blocked the UK government from concluding its deal to hand over the Chagos Islands with an injunction granted in the early hours of Thursday. The UK government is due to conclude its deal to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after an eleventh-hour high court injunction was lifted.
The agreement to hand sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius had been due to be given the green light by ministers on Thursday. Ministers are preparing to finalise the agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after they were blocked from doing so for several hours by a court ruling in the early hours of Thursday.
Under the deal, Britain will cede control over the islands to Mauritius but lease Diego Garcia for 99 years to continue operating a joint US-UK military base there.Under the deal, Britain will cede control over the islands to Mauritius but lease Diego Garcia for 99 years to continue operating a joint US-UK military base there.
Downing Street lifted its objection to finalising the deal over the prospect of a political backlash, according to reports, with the prime minister due to attend a virtual event with the Mauritian government on Thursday. Keir Starmer had been due to attend a virtual event with the Mauritian government when a high court judge granted an injunction brought against the Foreign Office at 2.25am on Thursday.
But in the injunction granted at 2.25am on Thursday, brought against the Foreign Office, Mr Justice Goose granted “interim relief” to Bertrice Pompe. Mr Justice Goose granted “interim relief” to Bertrice Pompe, a British woman who was born on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago, who had previously taken legal action against the agreement.
Pompe, a British woman who was born on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago, has taken legal action against the agreement.
Goose said in his order: “The defendant shall take no conclusive or legally binding step to conclude its negotiations concerning the possible transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos archipelago, to a foreign government or bind itself as to the particular terms of any such transfer.”Goose said in his order: “The defendant shall take no conclusive or legally binding step to conclude its negotiations concerning the possible transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos archipelago, to a foreign government or bind itself as to the particular terms of any such transfer.”
Philip Rule KC, appearing for Pompe, said there had been a delay in issuing a wider legal challenge blocking the government from signing the deal due to “problems with legal aid”, and that the injunction was launched after newspapers reported that the deal was imminent.Philip Rule KC, appearing for Pompe, said there had been a delay in issuing a wider legal challenge blocking the government from signing the deal due to “problems with legal aid”, and that the injunction was launched after newspapers reported that the deal was imminent.
Chagossian Voices, a community organisation for Chagossians based in the UK and in several other countries, which campaigns against the handover, said in a statement: “Chagossians remain the victims of an outrageous human rights abuse and continue to fight for justice. By meeting with ministers [David] Lammy and [Stephen] Doughty in London today, and through a challenge to the deal with Mauritius in the courts, members of Chagossian Voices continue to fight for Chagossians’ human rights, for restorative justice, a right of return and self-determination.”Chagossian Voices, a community organisation for Chagossians based in the UK and in several other countries, which campaigns against the handover, said in a statement: “Chagossians remain the victims of an outrageous human rights abuse and continue to fight for justice. By meeting with ministers [David] Lammy and [Stephen] Doughty in London today, and through a challenge to the deal with Mauritius in the courts, members of Chagossian Voices continue to fight for Chagossians’ human rights, for restorative justice, a right of return and self-determination.”
A government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on ongoing legal cases. This deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.” A government spokesperson said: “This deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.”
No 10 said last month that Donald Trump had signed off the deal after a meeting with Keir Starmer in the White House in February where the US president said he had “a feeling it’s going to work out very well”.No 10 said last month that Donald Trump had signed off the deal after a meeting with Keir Starmer in the White House in February where the US president said he had “a feeling it’s going to work out very well”.
Ministers have refused to disclose the cost of leasing Diego Garcia but it has been reported to be about £90m a year. Some inside government and the Labour party had attacked the agreement by asking why the UK was spending billions on it amid cost pressures.Ministers have refused to disclose the cost of leasing Diego Garcia but it has been reported to be about £90m a year. Some inside government and the Labour party had attacked the agreement by asking why the UK was spending billions on it amid cost pressures.
Downing Street is said to have been concerned about a “toxic” backlash were the deal to be announced amid widespread consternation over cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits.Downing Street is said to have been concerned about a “toxic” backlash were the deal to be announced amid widespread consternation over cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits.
MPs and campaigners have said those cuts contributed to Labour’s heavy losses in the local elections in England this month.MPs and campaigners have said those cuts contributed to Labour’s heavy losses in the local elections in England this month.
The news of the government’s intention to green-light the deal came a day after Starmer announced a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance. He told the Commons on Wednesday that he wanted to “ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments”. The Guardian revealed earlier this month that Downing Street was rethinking the policy.The news of the government’s intention to green-light the deal came a day after Starmer announced a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance. He told the Commons on Wednesday that he wanted to “ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments”. The Guardian revealed earlier this month that Downing Street was rethinking the policy.
Before February, there had been concerns in government that Trump would block the Chagos Islands agreement, after it triggered a backlash from the Conservatives and senior US Republicans.Before February, there had been concerns in government that Trump would block the Chagos Islands agreement, after it triggered a backlash from the Conservatives and senior US Republicans.
Senior figures in the Trump administration including Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, had criticised the proposals because of Mauritius’s relationship with China.Senior figures in the Trump administration including Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, had criticised the proposals because of Mauritius’s relationship with China.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, repeatedly claimed that Trump would reject the proposal once he turned his attention to it, but this did not materialise.Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, repeatedly claimed that Trump would reject the proposal once he turned his attention to it, but this did not materialise.