{"id":4710,"date":"2025-01-18T16:53:39","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T16:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewitnessexeter.co.uk\/?p=4710"},"modified":"2025-02-07T20:59:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T20:59:19","slug":"this-week-in-pmqs-decolonisation-reforms-and-resignations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewitnessexeter.co.uk\/?p=4710","title":{"rendered":"This Week in PMQs: Decolonisation, Reforms and Resignations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>5 Minute, 14 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

The Chagos Islands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Chagos Islands have become a major political issue in the House of Commons. Located in the Indian Ocean, the islands are administrated under British Indian Ocean Territory<\/a>. The Islands were ceded by the French to the British in 1814<\/a>. From then, they were maintained by the British Empire until Mauritius gained independence<\/a> in 1968. However, the UK government previously removed the islanders of Chagos Island\u2019s from 1965-1973 and said they would give the island back when they didn\u2019t require it for strategic purposes<\/a>. The British government has maintained control of the island even after decolonising much of the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chagos Islands are important to both the British and U.S. governments. Currently, there is a UK-US military base on the largest island Diego Garcia. The US Navy has designated this particular island<\/a> as a \u201cSupport Facility\u201d which \u201cprovides logistic support to operational forces forward deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf areas of responsibility in support of national policy objectives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mission outlined by the US navy<\/a> regarding the island paradise \u201cSupport Facility\u201d goes as follows; \u201cWe are Ready to Fight Tonight\u2026 At a moment\u2019s notice with little to no warning we must be ready to provide critical support to U.S. and Allied forces with base and logistical services in execution of national strategic objectives.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, the International Court of Justice gave an advisory opinion (non-legally binding) that the UK should end its control of the Chagos islands. The court concluded<\/a> that the UK \u201chas an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negotiations between the two nations began on the 3rd<\/sup> of November 2022. The Conservative Party, in government at the time, opened talks <\/a>\u201con the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)\/ Chagos Archipelago.\u201d These negotiations <\/a>regarding the change of government commenced in July of 2024 and are currently ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what is likely to happen to the islands?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently the deal is focussed on passing control of the islands to Mauritius<\/a>, whilst simultaneously maintaining the UK-US military base in Diego Garcia and providing provisions to Chagossians returning to the islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the PMQs held on January 15th<\/sup> 2024, Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch attacked the deal<\/a>, arguing that \u201cthere is no way that we should be giving up British territory in Chagos.\u201d This has been a consistent message from the party<\/a> since they came into opposition in July. Perhaps the expulsion of the former Foreign Minister James Cleverly to the back benches caused the leadership to forget that they were the party who started the negotiations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talks have apparently halted to wait for the incoming Trump administration to review the terms, although President Biden apparently planned to greenlight the deal<\/a>. The fate of the Chagos Islands is in the air until the new U.S. President to declares his position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Health Sector Reform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Labour party has made NHS reforms a key focus during their time in government. The Prime Minister called the state of the NHS<\/a> inherited from the previous government \u201cdisgraceful\u201d in responding to questions from Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has outlined the administration\u2019s main objectives<\/a> for reforming the NHS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n