Chagos Sovereignty: Conservatives Demand a Referendum

The British Conservatives are renewing their call for a referendum on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. Yesterday, members of the House of Lords began a detailed examination of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, during what is known as the Report Stage. The Labour Party, on their part, sought to reassure, stating that the UK would honor its commitments.

This bill aims to incorporate certain provisions of the treaty signed in May 2025 between the UK and Mauritius into British law, defining the status and future of the Chagos archipelago, including the joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago.

The debate over Chagos sovereignty divides the House of Lords. Among Conservatives, the message is clear: a referendum is deemed essential before any transfer of sovereignty.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere believes that the Chagossian population must be heard and is concerned about the speed of the process, especially as a Judicial Review initiated by Chagossian representatives is still ongoing, with a ruling expected on January 12.

He argues that moving too quickly risks undermining the judicial process.

Lord Callanan shares this view, suggesting that the British government’s decision to proceed is primarily political and could have been postponed.

On the Labour side, Jenny Chapman aims to reassure, asserting that Great Britain will fulfill its international obligations and remain committed to the treaty, stating that "the grounds for terminating it are very limited."

Debates will continue this Thursday, January 8.