CHAGOS ISLANDS

Early day motion 1559, tabled 23 May 2007 by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House welcomes the decision by the Court of Appeal to endorse the Chagos Islanders' right to return; notes that the Chagossians were disgracefully removed from the islands over 30 years ago and since then have fought a tenacious and brave campaign to win their right of return; calls on the Government to accept the decisions of both the High Court (2006) and the Court of Appeal (23rd May 2007) which upholds their right to return to their homeland of the Chagos Islands; further calls on the Foreign Office to meet the Chagos representatives to plan for their return and to invest in resources in rebuilding the infrastructure of the islands rather than wasting further money on court cases which are designed to deny the islanders their basic human rights; and congratulates Olivier Bancoult and his colleagues, their solicitor Richard Gifford and their barrister, Sir Sydney Kintridge QC, for their brilliant advocacy in this wholly worthwhile and just cause.

Signatures by party: Labour 32, Liberal Democrat 14, Scottish National Party 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.