Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands Deal Sparks Legal Battle Amid Public Outrage

Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is now facing a major legal challenge. A campaign group, Save the Chagos, backed by Conservative peers, has taken the first step in trying to block the deal by issuing a legal letter to the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).

The group is pushing for a judicial review, which, if successful, could completely overturn the decision to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory. Among those supporting the legal fight are former Cabinet minister Lord Lilley, Boris Johnson’s former adviser Lord Kempsell, and historian Lord Roberts of Belgravia, reported the Express.

According to The Telegraph, the peers argue that the government does not have the legal power to hand over the territory to a foreign nation. They claim that ministers lack the “prerogative power” to give away British sovereign land and that Parliament must give its approval before such a move can happen.

On top of that, the group says the £8.9 billion spending linked to the deal is unlawful and based on a “fundamentally wrong” understanding of international law.

Lord Kempsell made his position clear, saying the loss of British sovereignty and the “complete erasure” of the Chagossians from discussions about the islands is unacceptable. He called the situation a “scandal” and insisted that only “action, not words” will stop it from happening.

Under the government’s plan, the UK would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while paying to lease back the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The base is a crucial strategic asset, and ministers argue that the deal is the best way to resolve legal uncertainty after international rulings sided with Mauritius.

But Save the Chagos strongly disputes this, stating in their legal letter that the government cannot override Parliament’s sovereignty by giving away British territory without MPs’ approval.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously said the deal would not go ahead without the support of US President Donald Trump. Trump himself has signalled that he is “inclined to go along with” the agreement, although final approval remains uncertain.

Lammy has defended the plan, insisting it represents the “best deal” the UK could strike under the circumstances. The proposal would see Britain lease Diego Garcia for 99 years, with an option for an additional 40-year extension. With a legal battle now brewing, this controversial move is set to face even more scrutiny in the weeks ahead.