Letter to the Committee from Mr Paul Jeremy, 18 November 2007

I am writing with regard to the Government's recent decision to appeal to the House of Lords over the case of the Chagos islanders.

As the Government clearly remains obdurate in its opposition to their return, is there not a case for the House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs to hold a hearing into why this is so?

I should emphasise that I have no connection with the campaign mounted by the islanders, but as a Labour Party voter I am appalled by the treatment they have received from Labour Governments since the evictions started under Denis Healey from the 1960s. This record of callousness and duplicity belies the Labour Party's honourable record of standing up for oppressed people in British colonies and dependent territories.

I have no doubt that your committee has to prioritise in its inquiries, but surely when we witness this government slyly slipping this appeal through just when the Queen's Speech was being delivered, then it should be brought to account by an independent committee which is in the best position to examine such abusive practices.

Yours sincerely