Tag: Chagos Islands

Bishop of Southwark asks about sovereignty of the Chagos Islands

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands on 14th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I fully understand the sensitivities of the status of the islands in the light of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, but will the Minister confirm that such an opinion does not have the force of law? I impress on the Minister that the view from these Benches is to give priority for consultations to Chagos Islanders and their descendants, for the very important preservation of the current marine protected reserve and to begin a fresh approach to a new settlement for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

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Bishop of Durham asks about progress of negotiations over the future of the Chagos Islands

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 12th June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 3 November 2022 (HCWS354), what progress they have made, and what steps they still plan to take, to resolve outstanding issues in relation to the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago, including those relating to the return of former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago.

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Nationality and Borders Bill: Bishop of Durham speaks in support of amendment on Chagossian citizenship

On 28th February 2022, the House of Lords debated the Nationality and Borders Bill in the first day of the report stage. The Bishop of Durham spoke in support of an amendment tabled by Baroness Lister of Burtersett, which would provide a pathway to British Citizenship for former residents of the Chagos Islands and their descendants. The amendment was approved in a vote.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I hold my hands up: I am one of those who, as the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb, mentioned earlier, did not know much about this issue before we started this debate. However, I followed it and pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, for the way in which she has led this. It is quite clear that it is completely unjust and needs to be dealt with. I hope that the Minister has noted that, while in most debates, many of us around this House and the noble Lord, Lord Horam, will not agree, we agree on this one completely—100%. There is no justification for anything other than accepting this amendment.

Hansard