UK's ‘colonial' stance over Chagos Islands could derail court bid

Hopes of key International Criminal Court appointment threatened by the UK's refusal to act on UN rulings

The UK's colonial approach" to the Chagos Islands may yet damage hopes that a British QC will be appointed chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in succession to Fatou Bensouda.

Karim Khan is the current favourite for the position. But the UK's refusal to recognise two adverse international court judgements on the ownership of the Chagos Islands, a British claimed territory in the Indian Ocean, has stymied plans for consensus to build around Khan for the post.