'It's a shame!' Chagossian blasts Keir Starmer as Nigel Farage 'blocked' from carrying out island aid mission

Under the terms of the deal agreed last year, the UK would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay around £3 billion over the next 100 years to rent back the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.

The agreement has become increasingly controversial following repeated interventions from Donald Trump, who has warned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer he would be making a “big mistake” by pressing ahead.

Ministers are now concerned that Britain could be legally bound into the deal even if the United States withdraws its support.

Mr Nellan said: “There’s no reason to give that money away. This is money for the great British taxpayers.”

He argued the dispute would “go away” entirely if Chagossians themselves were allowed to decide their future through a referendum.

He said: “The money would stay in the British Treasury and Mauritius can go and do one."

The UK reached the agreement in May last year after a long-running legal dispute over sovereignty of the islands, which Britain detached from Mauritius in the 1960s.

However, Westminster fears if the Government now pulls out of the treaty, it could face legal action from Mauritius that may result in a multi-billion-pound compensation bill.

Mr Nellan questioned why the PM continues to push for the deal despite growing opposition.

He said: “We need to ask the Prime Minister why he keeps pushing for this and he needs to answer for that.

“There is no reason whatsoever to give the islands and money to Mauritius.”

Discussing the situation facing Chagossians currently on the islands, Mr Nellan described the community as “great”, despite ongoing legal pressure.

He referenced the case of Chagossian leader Misley Mandarin, who was recently served with a removal order warning he could face up to three years in prison or a £3,000 fine if he remains.

Meanwhile, Mr Farage, the Reform UK leader, is currently in the Maldives attempting to reach the Chagos Islands with supplies for stranded islanders.

Mr Farage has not been granted a permit to travel to the atolls.

Mr Nellan said: “The Government can easily issue a permit for Nigel Farage.

“Some people say he did not apply for one, but I’m sure a senior politician can get a permit issued, just like MPs have been on the island before.”

Mr Christys also highlighted the lack of human rights lawyers publicly supporting the Chagossians.

Mr Nellan said: “It’s a shame to say that.

“You have human rights lawyers who want to help the Prime Minister, who is a human rights lawyer himself, but when it comes to the Chagossians, it seems they are being ignored.”

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “The Government inherited a situation where UK sovereignty over the Chagos Islands was under threat.

“Maintaining control of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the agreement we have reached.

“It is the only way to ensure the base remains secure and operational for the long term. The deal would enable the UK and the US to operate the base just as it always has for generations to come.”

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