The government has delayed the Chagos Bill once more, dealing a fresh blow to Keir Starmer’s proposed agreement over the future of the Indian Ocean territory.
Officials confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the enabling legislation will not be brought back to the House of Lords before the February recess, pushing its earliest possible return to after 23 February.
Government whips decided they would not return the Bill before MPs and peers rise, meaning the earliest possible date for further proceedings is now after 23 February.
In Westminster, concern had been rising earlier this week after an unexpected gap appeared in Lords proceedings on Tuesday, alongside reports that Labour peers had been placed on a three line whip, a move that would require them to attend and vote. Those developments prompted speculation that ministers were preparing to reintroduce the Bill in an attempt to secure ratification.
There were also fears that Labour was briefing parts of the media that Donald Trump was again backing the agreement, however that claim had earlier been dismissed by officials at the White House.
Trump added to the controversy by publishing a lengthy statement on Truth Social referring to “very productive discussions” with Starmer about Diego Garcia, home to a major US military base. He described the island as being of “great importance to the National Security of the United States” and said he understood that the deal Starmer had struck was, “according to many, the best he could make”.
However, Trump also issued a stark warning about the future of the arrangement, saying that if the lease were ever to fall apart, or if anyone threatened or endangered US forces at the base, he would “retain the right to militarily secure and reinforce the American presence”. He added that he would never allow the US presence there to be undermined by what he called “fake claims or environmental nonsense”.
The remarks fall short of an outright endorsement of the wider Chagos settlement and instead underline Washington’s determination to preserve unfettered access to the base, increasing the pressure on the British government as the legislation remains stalled.
The repeated delay represents another setback for Starmer’s plans, with critics arguing that the process is beginning to unravel, while supporters insist negotiations remain ongoing and that the legislation will return once parliamentary time allows.
For now, the Bill remains off the schedule, and the political battle over the Chagos agreement is set to continue when MPs and peers return later in February.
