The UK government has been forced to shelve legislation that would have enabled the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after the US dropped its support for the deal.
On Friday, UK government officials acknowledged that there was no longer enough time to pass the law during the current parliamentary session, which is due to end in the coming weeks.
The move marks a setback for the government’s plan to complete the transfer through legislation. With the timetable now expired, the proposal will not progress in the current session.
The Chagos Islands have long been the subject of political and legal dispute, and the latest development means the UK will not be able to advance the planned handover as originally intended. The government’s position now reflects the reality that parliamentary time has run out before the legislation could be taken through both houses.
The decision follows the loss of US support, which had been an important element in the agreement. With that backing removed, officials accepted that the legislation could not be carried forward in time.
The shelving of the bill leaves the future of the islands’ status unresolved for now, with the immediate legislative route closed off. Any further attempt to revive the plan would depend on a future parliamentary session and a renewed political agreement.
For the moment, however, the UK government has accepted that it cannot complete the process before Parliament rises.
