The Guardian view on Britain ceding the Chagos Islands: a welcome step towards justice | Editorial
GuardianSEP 2024
Chagos Islands Deal Signed After Last-Minute Injunction Overturned
Above: General James Hockenhull, U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Defense Secretary John Healey, attend a press conference following a deal on the Chagos Islands at Northwood Military Headquarters on May 22, 2025, in London, England. Image copyright: Leon Neal/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Today's last-minute injunction attempted to delay long-overdue justice for a displaced people. The U.K. has honored international law, finally letting go of its colonial past. Britain stole the archipelago in 1814, and has been making excuses for its immoral retention ever since. Today is a good day for the U.K.'s global standing as a moral leader.
Right narrative
The hurried push to sign the Chagos deal and avoid legitimate legal challenges is a final disgrace in this sorry saga. As Pompe and Dugasse's brave stand proves, this smoke and mirrors deal ignores Chagossian voices and risks national security. The courts ignored their duty to uphold justice, instead choosing to rubber-stamp diplomacy driven by reckless ideology.