Starmer withdraws Chagos bill after Trump backlash

Sir Keir Starmer has withdrawn his Chagos Islands bill in the face of backlash over the deal from the US, according to reports.

- TARA COBHAM

The legislation, which was set to be debated in the House of Lords on Monday, has now been delayed over warnings it could breach a treaty with the US that asserts the UK’s sovereignty over the archipelago, The Telegraph reports.

The government has subsequently accused peers of interfering with Britain's national security in what it described as “irresponsible and reckless behaviour”.

The delay follows Donald Trump's U-turn on the agreement earlier this week. Just months after endorsing Britain's plan to hand the Indian Ocean territory to Mauritius, the US president criticised the move in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling it “an act of great stupidity”. It comes as relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir have dramatically soured this week.