My Lords, why does the Attorney-General wish to break the US-UK treaty on Diego Garcia, when the ICJ has no ability to order us around on Commonwealth and defence matters, and we need to keep that base?
I entirely agree with the noble Lord that we need to keep that base. That is why, coming into government, we built upon the 11 rounds of negotiations the previous Conservative Government had commenced, because we take the view that what is of most importance is securing that vital base for the defence and national security interests of this country. Like the last Government, we took the view that this was best secured through agreement. It is not simply out of adherence to what is an advisory, non-binding opinion of the International Court of Justice. That is simply one piece in a jigsaw, the larger picture of which is all about the national security interests of this country.
Reply Glad the Attorney confirmed the ICJ cannot make us give up Chagos. No answer to why he wants to break the US Treaty. Best to keep the freehold of the base as we are entitled to do.
July 8, 2026
Donald Trump stopped all military, intelligence and financial aid to Ukraine after his infamous attempt to bully and humiliate Vladimir Zelenskyy in the Oval Office
During Independence Day (July 4, 2026), Trump found time to speak with the Russian war criminal Putin to discuss mediating an end to the Ukraine conflict, shortly before the critical NATO summit in Ankara. During the 90-minute (“very good”) call, Putin provided a deceitful battlefield update, discussed regional issues like Iran, and engaged on potential diplomatic solutions with Trump. Trump has regular phone calls with Putin, but does not release transcripts of their conversations
According to OSINT reports, Trump and Putin’s phone call apparently included Trump offering to help mediate a resolution to the Ukraine war based on renewed attempts to force Ukraine to accept Russian territorial demands and proposed – yet again – sending his real estate envoys Witkopf and Kushner (both with strong records of failure in peace negotiations) on another jolly to Moscow. For the 9th time. While Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted Russia’s desire for a diplomatic settlement, the conversation included conflicting claims regarding non-existent Russian territorial advances, which Western intelligence agencies have refuted
Trump and his administration of sycophants have consistently taken the Russian side in the war and have – repeatedly – attempted to appease Putin by pressurising Ukraine into capitulating to Russian maximalist demands. The American free press is now calling out the Trump family for alleged corruption. They should also look into Trump’s relationship with the war criminal Putin, as his administration proposes more massive cuts to the American commitment to NATO
July 8, 2026
And the relevence of this to Chagos is ……
July 8, 2026
Sakara – Any realistic peace plan would have to accommodate Putin to some degree, however unpleasant that is. This regardless of whomever tries to negotiates it.
July 8, 2026
A typical non-answer from our noble labour lord.
It would have been useful if he’d laid out the intention of this government regarding Chagos – he had a great opportunity to help set things right.
Instead he leaves it all in a huge ball of confusion.
July 8, 2026
Lord Hermer’s unwillingness to answer is deafening. We now know HMG has no reason it will admit to for giving away Chagos. What remains is to discover the real reason. We can assume it is discreditable or it would not be a secret.
July 8, 2026
Giving up the Chagos Islands does not make any economic, practical, legal, security, and common-sense.
But when have any of those reasons stopped our politicians from doing something ?
July 8, 2026
Let the original people return it belongs to them . Support them in the form of a sensible lease and do it with USA.
July 8, 2026
i think you are wasting your time John. this country is doomed, it is in a death spiral. So much is fundamentally wrong decisions from our rulers. Voting will not fix it. Advise the young ones to move abroad. We have engineered our own destruction.