Exiles of the Chagos Islands have had the right to return to their homeland overturned by the House of Lords.
Exiles of the Chagos Islands have had the right to return to their homeland overturned by the House of Lords.
The government won its appeal against a court decision that had ruled in favour of 2,000 former residents of the British Indian Ocean territory.
The government won its appeal against a court decision that had ruled in favour of 2,000 former residents of the British Indian Ocean territory.
They were evicted in the 1960s when the colony was leased to the US to build an airbase on the atoll of Diego Garcia.
They were evicted in the 1960s when the colony was leased to the US to build an airbase on the atoll of Diego Garcia.
Lord Hoffmann said the case's subtext was funding - the UK may have had to pay for rebuilding their community.
Lord Hoffmann said the case's subtext was funding - the UK may have had to pay for rebuilding their community.
'Crusoe-like'
'Crusoe-like'
Lord Hoffmann said the Chagossians had understandably "shown no inclination to return to live Crusoe-like in poor and barren conditions of life".
Lord Hoffmann said the Chagossians had understandably "shown no inclination to return to live Crusoe-like in poor and barren conditions of life".
And in light of this, he said Foreign Secretary David Miliband was "entitled to take into account" the possibility the Chagossians would call on the UK to support "the economic, social and educational advancement' of the residents".
And in light of this, he said Foreign Secretary David Miliband was "entitled to take into account" the possibility the Chagossians would call on the UK to support "the economic, social and educational advancement' of the residents".
The Law Lords decision is the final judgement in the long-running case.
The Law Lords decision is the final judgement in the long-running case.
In a statement, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "It is appropriate on this day that I should repeat the government's regret at the way the resettlement of the Chagossians was carried out in the 1960s and 1970s and at the hardship that followed for some of them.
In a statement, Mr Miliband said: "It is appropriate on this day that I should repeat the government's regret at the way the resettlement of the Chagossians was carried out in the 1960s and 1970s and at the hardship that followed for some of them.
"We do not seek to justify those actions and do not seek to excuse the conduct of an earlier generation."
"We do not seek to justify those actions and do not seek to excuse the conduct of an earlier generation."
However, Mr Miliband added that the courts had previously ruled that fair compensation had been paid to the Chargossians and that "the UK has no legal obligation to pay any further compensation".
However, Mr Miliband added that the courts had previously ruled that fair compensation had been paid to the Chargossians and that "the UK has no legal obligation to pay any further compensation".
BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said the high hopes of the Chagossians would now be dashed by the ruling. He said it was likely they would take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.
BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said the high hopes of the Chagossians would now be dashed by the ruling. He said it was likely they would take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.
In 2000, High Court judges ruled that Chagossians could return to 65 of the islands, but not to Diego Garcia.
In 2000, High Court judges ruled that Chagossians could return to 65 of the islands, but not to Diego Garcia.
Our animals were killed and we were dumped... We have been treated like slaves Chagos Islanders spokesman
Our animals were killed and we were dumped... We have been treated like slaves Chagos Islanders spokesman
In 2004, the government used the royal prerogative - exercised by ministers in the Queen's name - to effectively nullify the decision.
In 2004, the government used the royal prerogative - exercised by ministers in the Queen's name - to effectively nullify the decision.
Last year, the court overturned that order and rejected the government argument that the royal prerogative was immune from scrutiny. The government had asked the Lords to rule on the issue.
Last year, the court overturned that order and rejected the government argument that the royal prerogative was immune from scrutiny. The government had asked the Lords to rule on the issue.
A spokesman for the Chagos Islanders said in a statement before the three-to-two majority ruling: "Forty years ago, in December 1966, the Harold Wilson Labour government gave away our homeland, including Diego Garcia, which has been given to the US government to use as a military base.
A spokesman for the Chagos Islanders said in a statement before the three-to-two majority ruling: "Forty years ago, in December 1966, the Harold Wilson Labour government gave away our homeland, including Diego Garcia, which has been given to the US government to use as a military base.
"The whole Chagossian population was forcibly removed from our homes, our animals were killed and we were dumped, mainly in the slums of Mauritius. We have been treated like slaves."
"The whole Chagossian population was forcibly removed from our homes, our animals were killed and we were dumped, mainly in the slums of Mauritius. We have been treated like slaves."
The exiled residents had hoped that if the Law Lords ruling had gone in their favour, their heritage could be rebuilt around a new tourist industry.
The exiled residents had hoped that if the Law Lords ruling had gone in their favour, their heritage could be rebuilt around a new tourist industry.
The Chagossians will require immigration consent to visit the islands for purposes such as tending graves, but the government has made it clear that consent would be no more than a formality.
The Chagossians will require immigration consent to visit the islands for purposes such as tending graves, but the government has made it clear that consent would be no more than a formality.
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