Senior Tories claim the government is in retreat on its controversial Chagos Islands handover, after the latest showdown in parliament was unexpectedly postponed.
The government has withdrawn a debate and votes in the House of Lords due on Monday in the latest round of parliamentary “ping pong” on the Chagos legislation.
Welcoming the move, a jubilant shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel declared: “This is a major victory for everyone standing against Keir Starmer’s disgraceful Chagos surrender.”
Peers had been due to debate motions passed in the Commons on Tuesday overturning Lords amendments to the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.
Earlier this month, the Lords inflicted four defeats on the government over the bill, demanding stopping payments to Mauritius, a referendum, costings and a parliamentary veto.
Last weekend, US President Donald Trump branded the deal “an act of great stupidity” and a sign of “total weakness”, prompting Kemi Badenoch to taunt Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs: “We didn’t need President Trump to tell us that. We’ve been saying that for 12 months.”
In Tuesday’s Commons debate overturning the Lords amendments, rebel Labour MP Graham Stringer called on the government to pause the Chagos deal.
In response to the postponement of Monday’s debate, Ms Patel posted on X: “In the face of relentless Conservative pressure, Labour have pulled their shameful Chagos Surrender Bill from Monday’s House of Lords order paper… The deal, which hands British sovereign territory and £35 billion to an ally of China, should be dropped altogether.
“The Conservatives will continue to fight the surrender every step of the way.”
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Defending the Conservatives’ determination to block the bill, shadow Foreign Office spokesman Lord Callanan said: “We are carrying out our constitutional duty to scrutinise bad legislation.
“It is Labour that are irresponsible and reckless for asking Parliament to pass a bill that risks breaking international law.
“The government admitted they need to amend the 1966 Treaty with the USA on 22 December, but still haven’t concluded that work.
“This bill, which will cost the British people £35 billion and fundamentally threatens our national security, cannot proceed.”
Read more:
What is in the Chagos Islands deal and why is it controversial?
Trump’s Chagos broadside leaves Starmer walking thinner tightrope
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But the government denied it was in retreat, confirming Monday’s withdrawal from Lords debates but insisting the business would be rescheduled.
“The government remains fully committed to the deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which is vital for our national security,” a spokesperson told Sky News.
“This is irresponsible and reckless behaviour by peers, whose roles is to check legislation, not interfere with our national security priorities.”
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On the Conservative claim that the deal breaches international law, the spokesperson added: “This is complete nonsense. The deal fully complies with international law.”
A Labour source in the Lords revealed to Sky News that Monday’s debate was withdrawn because the Conservatives tabled a wrecking amendment late on Friday.
The source insisted the debate would be rescheduled and chief whip Lord Kennedy would determine when, in consultation with others in government – but it is expected to be in the next few weeks.
“It is simply a response to Tory peers having flexed their much greater numbers in the House by tabling a wrecking amendment to a government bill just hours before the end of business ahead of a scheduled debate on the next sitting day,” the source said.
