Firstly, here is a link to my statement from October which lays out the background to the ongoing debacle of Labour’s Chagos Surrender deal,
Mims Davies MP Statement on Chagos | Mims Davies
in which the Labour Government is inexplicably choosing to give away a strategically important sovereign British territory in a move which is clearly against Britain’s national interests and national security. We in the Conservative Party believe,
‘This decision is indefensible on every level. The Chagos islands, and specifically Diego Garcia, have been a vital strategic asset for the UK and our allies for decades. The military base on Diego Garcia has played a crucial role in global security operations, supporting counter-terrorism efforts, maritime security and regional stability. It has been instrumental in projecting western power in the Indo-Pacific, a region increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition, particularly with China. By ceding sovereignty over these islands, Labour has put at risk Britain’s strategic interests and undermined our ability to operate in the region. What makes this decision even more staggering is that we are not just surrendering our sovereignty: we are paying Mauritius billions of pounds for the privilege.’
Dr Kieran Mullan MP – 28th January 2026
I am proud my party, as the Official Opposition, have not stopped fighting this appalling policy from the Labour Government.
Here is the link to the Chagos Islands: Marine Protection debate transcript from the 20th January 2026 in which the Conservative shadow foreign secretary said:
‘The Prime Minister said that Five Eyes partners, including the United States, backed the Chagos surrender Bill, but today the American President has publicly opposed it, rightly citing the very concerns that we Conservative Members have raised about the malign influence of China and Russia, and their benefiting directly from the surrender of the Chagos islands. Is President Trump right? Given that Labour’s Chagos surrender Bill will cost £35 billion, compromise our national security and betray the rights of the Chagossian community, when will the Government finally see sense and scrap this shameful treaty?’
Chagos Islands: Marine Protection - Hansard - UK Parliament
In our Opposition Day debate on the 28th of January 2026, we said
It is high time that the Prime Minister tore up this atrocious surrender treaty and put Britain’s interests, security, and hard-pressed taxpayers first. The Opposition have made that clear from day one, and have taken every opportunity to expose the deceit, falsehoods and foolishness of the approach taken by Labour. Whether it is on arguments of international law, defence and security, self-determination, the importance of the Chagossian people standing up for their rights, or the environment, it is the Conservatives who have been standing up for Britain’s national interests by unequivocally opposing this surrender treaty.
British Indian Ocean Territory - Hansard - UK Parliament
I would urge my constituents to read this debate transcript in which my colleagues spoke knowledgably and eloquently on the many issues at stake.
As you are no doubt aware, the situation surrounding the Chagos Islands deal is constantly evolving. This week (16th Feb), we heard President Trump again saying very clearly that Keir Starmer should not surrender the Chagos Islands. We also now have a small group of Chaggossians encamped on the remote Ile du Coin atoll who are protesting against Starmer’s government decision to give their homeland to Mauritius. While Dame Priti Patel, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary wrote in the Times,
“The Chaggossian people deserve their right to self-determination”
the UK’s Labour Government immediately threatened them with fines or prison for illegal entry. Not surprisingly, this has raised many eyebrows around the country to say the least, as it stands in direct contrast to their treatment of those entering the UK illegally.
I was extremely interested to hear what my colleague the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP had to say after his meetings this week with the Department for War, State Department, NSC and the White House on stopping the Chagos Surrender, as shared by the Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch on X who is also sending her Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel to Washington this weekend for further talks.
You can listen to what the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith had to say here
And here is a link to the shadow foreign secretary’s comments: Priti Patel MP on X
Notwithstanding these latest developments, giving up British sovereign territory to an ally of China and paying for the privilege was always an unbelievably irresponsible and reckless act, and is clearly undermining our relationship with our most important ally. As leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch has consistently set out our opposition to this policy and we voted for the Lords’ amendments to the Diego Garcia Bill. The Conservatives also tabled an amendment calling for a pause to the Bill "in light of the changing geopolitical circumstances". Thankfully, the government has now decided not to go ahead, saying the bill will return to the Lords at an unspecified later date.
Three senior Conservative MPs have also written to the Speaker raising concerns about inconsistent legal statements made to Parliament on the basis for introducing the Chagos Islands Bill and you can read that here:
Letter to the Speaker on inconsistent legal statements made to Parliament
We know the UK will be weaker and poorer as a result of this deal but this Labour Government continues to prioritise appeasing left-wing lawyers and activists over standing up for our national interests. This deal is an epic failure of diplomacy and statecraft. As Starmer and Labour threaten to undermine our security and defence, I can assure you the Conservatives will keep fighting against the Chagos Surrender for as long as it takes.
