A former member of the Reform party is facing criticism for condemning the Chagos Islands agreement after previously advocating for a similar deal with Joe Biden. Andrew Rosindell, who switched from the Tories to Reform, had urged Biden in 2020 to address the decolonization of Chagos to avoid international backlash. He emphasized the importance of rectifying historical wrongs and returning the islands to Mauritius.
Despite his recent departure from the Conservative Party over their handling of the Chagos issue, Rosindell had assured Biden during his presidency-elect period that the US national security would not be compromised by resolving the Chagossian people’s situation. He stressed the need for a policy review on resettlement and the future of the Chagos Islands, highlighting the ongoing legal disputes and the obligation to find a resolution, emphasizing the potential for a positive outcome with political will and compromise.
Labour MP Luke Charters criticized Rosindell’s stance, labeling it as hypocritical, especially considering his past efforts in support of the Chagos cause. Rosindell, in his capacity as the chairman of the Chagos Islands All Party Parliamentary Group, had reassured the US that Mauritian sovereignty over Chagos would not jeopardize US security interests, with the UK committed to returning the islands to Mauritius once they are no longer required for defense purposes.
The UK recently agreed to transfer sovereignty of Chagos to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia, where a UK-US military base is situated, for 99 years. Rosindell emphasized that the US base’s security would not be threatened by resettlement or eventual Mauritian control, as both Chagossians and Mauritius supported the base’s continuation. He highlighted Mauritius’ willingness to offer a long-term lease to the US and fund the resettlement of Chagossians wishing to return.
In a parliamentary session, Rosindell questioned the Foreign Secretary’s support for Greenlandic self-determination while seemingly opposing the Chagossian people’s right to decide their status as a British overseas territory. The UK and Mauritius’ agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands was welcomed by the White House for ensuring the long-term operation of the US-UK military facility at Diego Garcia.
The article noted ongoing international pressure on the UK to return the islands to Mauritius, with the British government justifying its actions as safeguarding the base’s security from legal challenges. A Labour source criticized the Tories and Reform for what they perceived as hypocrisy and inconsistency in their approach to the Chagos issue.
Rosindell’s consistent advocacy for the Chagossian people’s self-determination and return to the islands was highlighted by a Reform UK spokesman, emphasizing his belief in allowing the Chagossians to decide their future, whether aligning with Mauritius, seeking independence, or remaining under UK authority.