Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pressing forward with the contentious transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius today, despite facing fierce opposition from former US President Donald Trump and a significant rebellion from within his own Labour Party ranks.
Parliamentary Showdown and Internal Dissent
The government successfully overturned amendments proposed by the House of Lords that aimed to block the ratification of the treaty. This legislation formalises the handover of UK territory to Mauritius while securing a long-term leaseback of Diego Garcia, which hosts a critically important United States military base.
However, the Commons vote revealed cracks in Labour's unity. Three of Sir Keir's backbenchers – Graham Stringer, Peter Lamb, and Bell Ribeiro-Addy – defied the party whip to side with opposition parties. Their rebellion underscores the deep-seated concerns surrounding the deal's implications.
Trump's Surprise Condemnation Throws Plans into Chaos
Questions are now mounting over the treaty's viability following scathing public criticism from Donald Trump. The former president launched a surprise attack, labelling the proposals as "stupid" and an "act of GREAT STUPIDITY" on his Truth Social platform.
This intervention has caused significant disruption for Number 10, as the Trump administration had explicitly endorsed the agreement as a "monumental achievement" back in May. In his post, Trump argued the move demonstrated "total weakness" that would be noted by global adversaries like China and Russia.
He even linked the decision to his own geopolitical ambitions, stating it reinforced his rationale for pursuing the acquisition of Greenland.Government Insists on Deal's Strength Amidst Uncertainty
Ministers have consistently defended the treaty as a necessary response to international court rulings that favoured Mauritian sovereignty claims, which they argued threatened the long-term future of the Diego Garcia base. Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told MPs that discussions with the US administration would continue to emphasise the deal's strengths.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman reiterated that the UK's position remains unchanged, stating, "The US supports the deal and the president explicitly recognised its strength last year."
Detailed Rebellion and Failed Amendments
The Labour rebels supported several Lords amendments that were ultimately defeated. These included proposals to halt payments to Mauritius if military use of the base became impossible, and requirements for the government to publish the full costs and estimated expenditure of the treaty.
One amendment, which sought a referendum on Chagos sovereignty, was ruled out of order by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The votes saw the government secure comfortable majorities, with the key amendment rejected by 344 votes to 182.
Despite the parliamentary victory, the combination of high-profile US opposition and internal party dissent presents a substantial challenge for Sir Keir as he seeks to implement this major foreign policy initiative.
