Nigel Farage asked Labour ministers in Parliament yesterday why, if they are so keen to stress the right of Falkland residents to self-determination, they have denied that same right to Chagossians. That call for a formal referendum was dodged…
Guido hears plans are already underway for an informal referendum of Chagossians. To be organised by the Friends of the British Overseas Territories charity, the plebiscite should work similarly to the recent Oxford University Chancellor election – a fully secure digital and remote vote. Easily organised…
10,000 Chagossians have had British citizenship since 2002 and around 3,500 of them live in Crawley. Numerous community groups like Chagossian Voices, which has already made its strong views on the handover deal known, make co-ordination a smooth task. Guido expects turnout to be high…
UPDATE: Now confirmed.
‘On 3rd December 2024, Friends of the British Overseas Territories can confirm that as a charity we are standing with Chagossians in their plight for self-determination.
We will be working with our partners, experts and networks to organise and host an informal referendum, giving islanders a say on where sovereignty should lie.
We aim to deliver a secure, ambitious and remote referendum using the latest technology that will finally give the governments of the UK, US and Mauritius a solid understanding of where the Chagos Islands belong.
Our CEO, Philip Smith said:
“This year Oxford Unversity elected their new Chancellor through a digital and remote election system, we aim to follow suit and carry out this informal referendum using our networks and partners. ID validation is at the heart of this plan and we are already working with Chagos groups to understand how their vote will be validated using BIOT ID.
“Chagos Islanders are no different to the citizens of other Overseas Territories, we stand side by side with them as we stand up for self-determination. We urge other Overseas Territories to do so too.”
The informal referendum will take place early 2025.’
Peter Mandelson has finally said sorry for believing Jeffrey Epstein over the paedophile’s victims. He told BBC Newsnight:
“Yesterday, I did not want to be held responsible for his crimes of which I was ignorant, not indifferent, because of the lies he told me and so many others. I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered. I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else I learned the actual truth about him after his death. But his victims did know what he was doing, their voices were not heard and I am sorry I was amongst those who believed him over them.”