The Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill was passed at third reading by 320 votes to 171, majority 149.

It follows a treaty signed by the UK Government in May to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to Mauritius.

The UK will retain control over the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia for at least 99 years, at an average annual cost of £101 million, under the agreement.

As MPs debated the Bill on Monday, shadow Foreign Office minister Wendy Morton suggested Mauritius was having discussions “in secret” with China and Russia, and Reform UK MP Danny Kruger also raised concerns over a “secret deal with China”.

However, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said this was “absolute nonsense”, telling the Commons foreign forces would be prohibited from

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