“The UK government has been forced to shelve its legislation to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after the US dropped its support for the agreement.”

“UK government officials acknowledged they had run out of time to pass legislation within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks.”

“The US president has previously criticised the plan, which is backed by the US state department, telling Starmer he was 'making a big mistake' by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for the UK and US being allowed to continue using their airbase.”

“Under the deal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease Diego Garcia for 99 years to continue operating the joint military base there.”

“The US had not formally exchanged letters to amend a 1966 British-American treaty on the islands that is understood to have forced the UK to drop its bill.”

“The Chagos Islands are officially known as British Indian Ocean Territory and have been controlled by the UK since the 19th century.”

“In 2019, the International Court of Justice found that the UK unlawfully separated the islands from Mauritius before it granted independence to the country in 1968.”

“Thousands of islanders were forcibly deported to make way for the US-UK military base.”

“In February, the Guardian reported Trump changed his mind on supporting the deal because the UK would not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran.”

“Last month, Iran launched two missiles at the joint military base after warning British lives were in danger because Starmer authorised the US to carry out further strikes from British bases.”