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Keir Starmer’s handling of the Chagos deal that will see the strategic islands handed over to Mauritius has been condemned by a new House of Lords report. The cross-party International Relations and Defence Committee has published new findings accusing the government of leaving Chagossians feeling “sidelined” by the handover process.

The report comes off the back of an online survey conducted by the committee seeking the views of Chagossians both in Britain, Mauritius and elsewhere. Over 3,000 survey responses were submitted, and the findings are scathing for Sir Keir Starmer. Peers say Chagossians feel a “deep sense of injustice” over their forced displacement from the islands, and demand that compensation must be handed out only to Chagossians and not administered by Mauritius.

There is also widespread distrust of the Mauritian government, which has historically marginalised and discriminated against Chagossians.

The respondents were particularly damning over Sir Keir’s deal which they feel lacks sufficient safeguards to ensure the rights and livelihoods of Chagossians still living on the archipelago.

Lord de Mauley who chairs the independent panel fumed: “Chagossians have been consistently sidelined during negotiations on the UK’s Agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago.

“Successive UK Governments have failed to engage meaningfully with the community throughout this process.

“Chagossians have a clear moral right to be heard and to participate in decisions affecting themselves and their homeland. We are grateful to all Chagossians who responded to our survey. While this provided an opportunity for them to voice their views, our survey cannot be a substitute for a full Government consultation.

“It is now for the Government to take responsibility and respond to the concerns Chagossians raised with us through the survey. 

“Despite working under significant time and resource constraints, we believe that our findings paint a broadly accurate picture of Chagossian views. The key themes that emerged closely align with those identified by the Committee as part of its previous inquiry into the implications of transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.”

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel described the Lords’ report as “another damning indictment of Labour’s Chagos Surrender Treaty.

“The Chagossians have been ignored, let down and betrayed by Labour and the Surrender Treaty does nothing to address their concerns. The Treaty needs to be scrapped to protect Chagossian interests and to save the British taxpayer £35 billion.”

The report came hours after Chagossians announced they have set up a government in exile in an attempt to prevent the handover by Labour.

Families evicted from the islands between 1967 and 1973 have elected a “first minister”, saying they want to remain British citizens.

Misley Mandarin, the newly appointed first minister, said: “Let the world know: we remain loyal subjects of His Majesty.

“We remain committed partners to the United Kingdom and the United States. Tonight, the Chagossian voice becomes one voice. Tonight, our story begins anew.

“We are still here. We are still Chagossian. And tonight — we rise. God Save the King.”

The Foreign Office was approached for comment.