Overview
- MPs passed the Diego Garcia Military Base and BIOT Bill at third reading by 320–171, sending it to the House of Lords and paving the way for a formal handover within months.
- The treaty cedes sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia to the UK for 99 years to maintain the joint UK–US military base.
- Government ministers insist the agreement prohibits any foreign military installations on the outer islands, rejecting allegations of a secret arrangement with China.
- Conservative and Reform UK MPs sought late amendments to block or condition payments to Mauritius and to require publication of legal advice, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
- Costs are disputed, with the Prime Minister citing a £3.4bn net figure and critics warning of totals near £30bn to £47bn; separate reporting puts average annual base costs at about £101m.