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Henry Smith

Member of Parliament for Crawley

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Chagos Islands

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Chagos Islands

Before the dissolution of Parliament I was proud to serve as the Vice Chair of the Chagos All-Party Parliamentary Group.

The Chagos islanders, British citizens, were exiled from their homeland in 1968 by Orders in Council under Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The decision did not come through Parliament. A great injustice was done at that time, and while we cannot turn the clock back, we can start to right those wrongs.

Crawley is home to a large Chagossian community and this is an issue I’ve consistently pursued since even before my election to Parliament in 2010. I’ll continue to pursue this cause with the Government.

In January 2018 I introduced legislation to ensure nationality rights for descendants of the Chagos islanders. My British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill received backing from the influential House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.

News

Debating the Queen’s Speech

Debating the Queen’s Speech

Friday, 17 January, 2020

Henry Smith MP Crawley News 24 article.

Embedded thumbnail for Crawley MP marks Britain's role in post-Brexit world

Crawley MP marks Britain's role in post-Brexit world

Tuesday, 14 January, 2020

Henry Smith MP has spoken in the Queen’s Speech debate reiterating the importance of British democracy, and how decisions taken at home can support Global Britain around the world.

Embedded thumbnail for Henry Smith MP speech during the December 2019 Queen's Speech Debate - 13 January 2020

Henry Smith MP speech during the December 2019 Queen's Speech Debate - 13 January 2020

Tuesday, 14 January, 2020

Henry Smith MP speech during the Queen's Speech Debate, under the topic of Britain in the World.

Ahead to 2019

Ahead to 2019

Monday, 31 December, 2018

Henry Smith MP column, Crawley Observer, 2nd January 2019.

Henry Smith MP secures parliamentary committee backing for Chagos bill

Henry Smith MP secures parliamentary committee backing for Chagos bill

Tuesday, 3 July, 2018

Henry Smith MP has received support from the Home Affairs Select Committee for his British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill.

Henry Smith MP column, Crawley Observer, 2 May 2018.

Raising local issues in Parliament

Monday, 7 May, 2018

Henry Smith MP column, Crawley Observer, 9 May 2018.

Speech

Henry Smith MP speech in the House of Commons introducing the British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill

Wednesday, 17 January, 2018

Full text of Henry Smith MP's speech introducing his Ten Minute Rule Motion, the British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill, in the House of Commons on 16th January 2018.

We seek to right a wrong done unto fellow Britons

Tuesday, 16 January, 2018

Henry Smith MP article, PoliticsHome, 16 January 2018.

Henry Smith MP introduces Chagos Islands British Citizenship Bill to Parliament

Henry Smith MP introduces Chagos Islands British Citizenship Bill to Parliament

Tuesday, 16 January, 2018

Henry Smith MP has spoken in the House of Commons to introduce his British Indian Ocean Territory (Citizenship) Bill.

Henry Smith MP to introduce Chagos Islands British Nationality Bill

Henry Smith MP to introduce Chagos Islands British Nationality Bill

Wednesday, 10 January, 2018

Henry Smith MP will introduce legislation in the House of Commons next week to allow individuals descended from the Chagos Islands to register as British citizens in recognition of the fact that their parents and grandparents were forcibly exiled from this UK Overseas Territory.

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Henry Smith Member of Parliament for Crawley

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