Meet the Man Taking On Keir Starmer: Chagossian Hero Risking Everything for His Homeland

“I would rather die than watch Keir Starmer give my homeland to a foreign power.”

Misley Mandarin is not a politician. He’s not a lawyer. He’s not a billionaire or a media mogul. He’s a British Army veteran — and a Chagossian — who has had enough.

Today, with the full weight of the Labour Government pressing down and a £30 billion treaty looming, Misley Mandarin is risking everything to stop what he calls the “final betrayal” of his people.

And he’s doing it not from the shadows, but boldly, in public, with the support of the Great British PAC and its chairman, Ben Habib, former Reform UK deputy leader.

The target of his legal action? None other than Prime Minister Keir Starmer — whose government signed a secretive deal last month to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a move that has sparked outrage from veterans, Chagossians, and national security experts alike.

“We were evicted from our homeland by a past Labour government,” said Mandarin. “Now the current Labour Government is doing something even worse – stripping us of our right to self-determination.”

“I’d Rather Die Than See My Homeland Handed Over”

For Misley, this is personal. His relatives were among the thousands of Chagossians forcibly removed from the archipelago by the British state, under Labour in the late 1960s and 1970s. His life, his identity, and his future are tied to those islands — a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), now at the centre of one of the most controversial foreign policy decisions in decades.

“I would rather die than watch Keir Starmer give my homeland to a foreign power,” said Misley in a recent statement.

He now leads the grassroots group BIOT (British Indian Ocean Territory), giving a voice to the Chagossians who were never consulted before Starmer’s government signed away the islands — and British sovereignty — to Mauritius in a backroom deal which would also cost the UK taxpayer an eye-watering £101 million a year, or over £30 billion over a century.

Taking On the Labour Government — at Great Personal Risk

Misley is not just speaking out — he’s launching a Judicial Review to prove the treaty was signed unlawfully. Legal experts, including a top King’s Counsel, believe the Government may have breached multiple principles: failure to consult the Chagossians, irrational disregard for their rights, violations of the Equality Act 2010, and even racial discrimination.

But this legal challenge comes with immense personal risk.

“The cruel Labour Government could come after Misley for enormous legal costs if they lose,” said Claire Bullivant, CEO of the Great British PAC. “That’s why we’re building a buffer to protect him.”

The Great British PAC has already raised the legal fees necessary to launch the case and is now seeking to raise an additional £20,000 to underwrite it — shielding Misley from potential reprisals. Ben Habib has pledged to match up to £10,000 personally.

“This is not just a treaty,” said Habib. “It’s a national betrayal, done behind closed doors and without a democratic mandate. But it’s not too late to stop it. This is a test of whether our Government is accountable to the law, and whether Parliament has the facts to do the right thing.”

Starmer’s Shameful Deal — and the Rising Rebellion

Keir Starmer signed the treaty after no consultation or debates in Parliament last month. The agreement would not only cede British sovereignty over the archipelago but also commit the UK to a financial liability of more than £30 billion — all while Mauritius continues to strengthen ties with Russia and China.

Just weeks before the agreement, Mauritius signed a marine “research” pact with Russia, alarming British security analysts who warn that the UK-US military base at Diego Garcia could be compromised in the long term.

While the Foreign Office claims the treaty includes clauses to prevent Chinese or Russian bases nearby, critics remain unconvinced. “If World War III breaks out, everything is off the table, and we have nowhere on that side of the planet to refuel our ships and planes. The US should be very worried too,” explained one military expert.

Meanwhile, a revolt is brewing in the House of Lords, where Conservative peers have tabled a fatal motion to block ratification of the treaty entirely.

“Spooked by a last-minute legal fight, the Government’s unnecessary political decision to sign away our sovereignty over the Chagos Islands will cost the British taxpayer £30 billion and put our strategic defence interests at risk,” said Lord Callanan, the shadow foreign minister in the Lords.

The motion cites the absence of any legal obligation to sign the deal, lack of consultation, and the betrayal of the Chagossian people, especially non-Mauritian descendants in the UK. If passed, it would be the first time the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act has been used by the Lords to try to block a treaty.

Misley: A Voice the Nation Must Hear

Amidst the political manoeuvring from both sides, one voice rises with moral clarity: Misley Mandarin. A British Army veteran, a Chagossian, a campaigner — and now, the public face of a legal war for justice, identity, and national integrity.

His courage is the kind Britain should honour — but instead, it’s the Labour Government that may try to punish him with court costs for daring to speak the truth.

The Great British PAC, under Ben Habib’s leadership, is determined to prevent that. “Misley has shown incredible courage,” said Habib. “Now, we must stand behind him.”

This isn’t just a case about an island. It’s about honour, justice, and the rule of law. And it’s about whether one brave man — standing with the people, not the politicians — can stop a betrayal before it’s too late.

Stand with Misley. Help protect him from Government reprisals. Donate now: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savechagos

All photos credit: Misley Mandarin