Lord Beamish (Lab)

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, has just said that this was not part of a Labour manifesto, but it was part of the last Government’s determination to get a deal on the issue of Diego Garcia. I accept that there are genuine arguments in this debate around environmental issues, and issues around the Chagossian people. I have to say that, from certain quarters, that has come a bit late. We have had quietness, certainly during the last Government, about the rights of Chagossians. I accept that there are noble exceptions in this House and in the other place who have campaigned for many years for their rights, but that was never an issue at the forefront of the last Government’s negotiations with regard to the Bill. What the last Government did was very sensible. They wanted to enter into a long-term agreement to ensure the security and long-term use of Diego Garcia, which was under threat, obviously because of the unusual nature of that island territory. In terms of Diego Garcia, the agreement is vital not only to our national interests but to our international allies, including the United States. Much has been said about the United States being against this deal. It is not; it sees the long-term benefits. I accept what the noble Lord, Lord Callanan, said about the investment, but that pales into insignificance compared to the amount of investment that the US and other allies will be putting in to secure not only the long-term interests of that base but its capabilities. It is not something we can play party politics with. Alas, I accept that some people are playing party politics with this.