The Great British PAC is entering the decisive phase of its battle against the Government's secretive Chagos Islands deal — and our chairman, Ben Habib, has put his own money on the line to win it. Habib has promised to match every public donation pound for pound, up to £10,000, in a final drive to protect the brave British Chagossian now taking the UK Government to court.
The crowdfunder behind the challenge — “Help Us Stop the Chagos Island Betrayal – Judicial Review Crowdfunder” — has already brought in the full legal costs required to bring the case. With legal action now imminent, our campaign is asking the British public for urgent help to safeguard the man fronting it: Misley Mandarin, a British Chagossian who could be left personally liable for court costs should the case fail.
A voice from the frontline
Mandarin has stepped forward to take on the Government in court despite the personal risk to himself.
“We were evicted from our homeland by a past Labour government, and now the current Labour government is doing something even worse — stripping us of our right to self-determination,” said Mandarin. “We are standing up for our basic human rights. We will not let Keir Starmer and his government get away with this betrayal. We deserve justice, and we will not be silenced.”
For Habib, the case reaches far beyond a question of territory.
“This isn’t just about defending territory,” said Habib. “It’s about standing up for the Chagossian people, for the rule of law, and for democratic accountability. Misley has shown extraordinary courage. He’s risked the wrath of Starmer’s government to stand up for justice — now we must stand behind him.”
The case is secured — now it's about protection
With Habib's pledge and the generous backing of an anonymous donor, the Great British PAC has already lined up top-tier legal representation, including a leading King's Counsel, and is poised to file a Judicial Review within days. The next task, our team says, is shielding the individual at the heart of the case.
“We’ve secured the legal firepower,” said Claire Bullivant, CEO of the Great British PAC. “Now, this crowdfunder is about protection. We must ensure the Government can’t destroy the life of the brave man leading this case.”
“Misley Mandarin is a hero,” Bullivant continued. “He’s standing up not just for the Chagossians, but for every British citizen who believes in justice and truth. We’re calling on the Great British public to help us raise £20,000 to shield him from government reprisals.”
A cross-party call to action
With Parliament expected to vote on the treaty soon, we are appealing to defenders of sovereignty and justice right across the political spectrum — among them Nigel Farage, Reform UK, Kemi Badenoch, and members of the Conservative Party — to back the cause and help amplify the campaign.
“This isn’t a partisan issue., it’s about doing what’s right,” said Ben Habib. “The Government has misled the public, stitched up a secretive deal behind closed doors, and abandoned a community they once exiled. No scrutiny, no proper debate, no mandate — just betrayal. They’re handing over a vital British territory, and all while Beijing cheers from the sidelines. It’s outrageous. We have a moral duty, a legal duty, and a patriotic duty to stop this. So come on Nigel, come on Kemi — time to step up for Britain, for democracy, and for what’s right.”
Why this legal challenge matters
Under the deal struck with Mauritius, the UK would surrender sovereignty of the strategically vital Chagos Islands — a move that could cost taxpayers £30+ billion while severing Chagossians from their ancestral homeland, all without Parliamentary consent or public consultation.
Critics have condemned the agreement as:
- Secretive and undemocratic, with no vote or debate in Parliament
- A betrayal of the Chagossian people, many of whom were never consulted
- A threat to national security, by surrendering a key UK-US military base
- Potentially devastating for one of the world’s most protected marine reserves
- Based on misleading claims — with Chinese state media celebrating the deal while UK ministers falsely suggested China opposed it
“The Government has misled the public,” said Habib. “They’ve negotiated in the shadows, abandoned a vulnerable community, and may be compromising our national defence. We have a moral and legal duty to stop this.”
Legal grounds: strong, strategic, urgent
The Judicial Review, due to be filed in the coming days, will contend that the Government has acted unlawfully on a number of grounds, including:
- Failure to consult the Chagossian community
- Breach of the Equality Act 2010
- Discrimination based on race and nationality
- Procedural unfairness and human rights violations
- Misinterpretation of international legal protections
“How can any MP with a good conscience ratify this deal if it’s proven to be unlawful?” Bullivant asked. “We’re giving Parliament a chance to do the right thing — but the clock is ticking.”
Join the campaign — every pound matters
We are now asking the public to help raise the final £20,000 needed to protect Misley Mandarin from the personal risk he would face if the Government retaliated with court costs.
“If we win, your donation won’t be touched,” Bullivant said. “If we lose, your support ensures Misley isn’t bankrupted for standing up for justice.”
And with Ben Habib pledging to match every pound, each donation now carries double the impact. You can donate at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savechagos.
For media or donor enquiries, please contact claire.bullivant@greatbritishpac.com.
This is more than a court case — it is a fight for our future. Stand with Misley. Stand with justice. Stop the Chagos Betrayal.