Keir Starmer reported to UN for 'crimes against humanity' over treatment of Chagossians

James Saunders
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:06:58 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has been reported to the United Nations for alleged crimes against humanity.

In another hammer blow to the PM's Chagos Islands "surrender" deal after it emerged the Bill to give away the islands would be shelved, the UN is now probing whether it violates international human rights law.

UN officials are investigating claims that the Prime Minister is committing a "crime against humanity" by seeking to remove the indigenous Chagossian people from their homeland.

James Tumbridge, the Attorney General for the Chagossian Government-in-exile, has submitted an urgent appeal to the UN human rights commissioner.

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The submission accuses the British Government of acts amounting "to ethnic cleansing and potentially crimes against humanity" in its attempts to expel islanders.

Four Chagossians, including First Minister Misley Mandarin, recently returned to their homeland.

More than 300 more have expressed interest in joining them.

But their efforts at resettlement have been hampered by Border Force officials, who were seen on Saturday intercepting a supply ship trying to help the native islanders.

Mr Mandarin accused Sir Keir of blocking humanitarian supplies for six people camped on the island.

He also revealed: "We were happy when we heard the giveaway had been halted."

"But even that good news turned to a very, very bad experience when our resupply boat was blocked. They refuse us solar panels to make clean water, mosquito nets and sheets to sleep on.

"The British Government removed us from the island in the 60s and 70s. Now, when we are back, they are trying to remove us in another way by not supplying us with humanitarian aid."

Mr Tumbridge's letter argues their removal would constitute a "violation of the right of indigenous peoples not to be forcibly removed from their lands".

The submission follows a recent legal victory that confirmed the islanders have a right to live on their homeland.

Sir Keir's deal originated from a 2019 International Court of Justice resolution requesting Britain give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

But after Donald Trump's repeated attacks on the giveaway, the Prime Minister was forced to put his bid to enshrine it in law on hold.

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"Never say never, but it would take something truly extraordinary to change President Trump's mind," a Maga figure with close links to the administration told The Times.

"The failure of Starmer to back him with Iran is something you just don't come back from."

It also emerged on Saturday that Mauritius, a key ally of India and China, has pledged to "reclaim" the islands.

Dhananjay Ramfal, the country's Foreign Minister, said: "We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process. This is a matter of justice."

The Maldives and Seychelles have also lodged opportunistic claims to the territory.

Back in the UK, politicians of all stripes emerged to claim victory over Labour after Friday's news.

Last night, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel told The Telegraph: "Keir Starmer spent decades in wigs and courtrooms defending everyone except the British national interest, and now the UN is on his doorstep. Poetic justice at its finest."

"We fought this outrageous surrender of British sovereign territory every step of the way, which has led to his Chagos vanity project now destined for the bin. Unlike Labour, Conservatives will always put our country first."

But Reform UK, to whom MP Andrew Rosindell defected over the Tories' "complicity" in giving away the islands, was quick to highlight that the Conservatives opened negotiations with Mauritius while in Government.

The party's policy chief James Orr said: "The uniparty surrendered Chagos because international law always mattered more to it than the interests of the British people.

"The Tories lost negotiations they never needed to start. Labour was delighted to capitulate. Reform will always defend British sovereign territory."

Labour remains committed to the proposed agreement despite its setback.

The deal would cost Britain approximately £35billion over 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia base, which it currently enjoys for free.

The Foreign Office insists the deal will "secure the future of the base, ensuring that it can continue to operate securely for generations to come".