The dispute continued at the United Nations and in international courts for many years and this agreement was reached following two years of negotiations. Andrew harding has the details. A scattering of tiny islands deep in the Indian Ocean. British, for now, but after todays agreement, not for much longer. The Chagos Islands are all uninhabited, save for one, an important one, diego garcia. It is home to a big and secretive american military base. Today, britain agreed to hand the whole archipelago over to mauritius, but crucially, The Americans will remain in place. This is a very, very important agreement between our countries. Crucially protects the national security interests of the united kingdom and our allies and has been reached in full agreement with the united states retaining the crucial base on diego garcia. Also closes down a potential route for migrants. But some have warned that china could exploit the deal to extend its influence. It is over half a century since the in
And it leads people to take decisions that are lonely, isolating and incredibly risky, just like my father. And, really, what the law should do is protect people. The noes to the left, 330. Its been almost ten years since mps voted against assisted dying. Since then, countries including canada, australia and New Zealand have legalised it. High profile figures like Dame Esther rantzen have reignited the debate. She has terminal lung cancer, and the Prime Minister gave her a personal commitment that hed allow a Debate And Vote in the commons. A Labour Mp has now taken up the cause and will introduce her own bill later this month. I think the mood has changed publicly, and i think it probably has changed within parliament, so i have spoken to quite a lot of the new intake of mps, and they think the time is right to have this debate. They are nervous in some respects as am i, because its such an important issue and its such an emotive issue. And i really hope that, for my part, i can facil