Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill

Debate between Priti Patel and David Simmonds

Consideration of Lords amendments
Tuesday 20th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

Although Lords amendments 2 and 3 have not been selected, I will briefly comment on them for members of the Chagossian community watching this debate. Owing to the actions of the Conservatives in the House of Lords, the Government were forced to slow down the ratification process for a brief moment while a survey was undertaken in the other place by the International Relations and Defence Committee. That was very important, because something like 3,000 respondents gave a view. They gave a very clear statement as to the direction of travel on the Chagos Islands—their ancestral home—and they want them to remain British.

[David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) (Con)]

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

[Priti Patel]

I will very briefly give way—this will be the last intervention I take.

[David Simmonds]

If this is such a good deal, why does my right hon. Friend think that one of my local authorities is having to house hundreds of Chagossians who are fleeing to the UK to escape its consequences?