MINISTERS have postponed the Chagos islands Bill following increased attention by US President Donald Trump, who branded the handover an act “of great stupidity” and “weakness.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paused legislation, which was meant to be heard in the House of Lords on Moday after Tory peers tabled a last-minute motion, delaying the Bill.

The Bill would hand sovereignty of the low-lying Indian ocean archipelago, British territory since 1814, to Mauritius and would force Britain to lease back the island of Diego Garcia, where a joint British-US military base has been housed.

The Tories’ parliamentary motion asked for the Bill to be postponed until talks conclude between the US and Britain over the handover’s impact on a separate treaty between the two countries over other islands.

Lord Callanan, the Tories’ shadow Foreign Office spokesperson in the Lords, said in December: “The government admitted they need to amend the 1966 treaty with the US . . . but still haven’t concluded that work.”

Rushing the deal with Mauritius before the 1966 agreement was settled, the Tories have claimed, could break international law.

Despite a previous endorsement, Mr Trump blindsided British officials as he turned on the Chagos treaty.

Posting on social media last week, he claimed “there is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”

The PM later claimed that Mr Trump’s comments were merely a tactic to press Britain to cave on its defence of Greenland, as Sir Keir vowed he would “not yield” on Mr Trump’s threats to take over the Arctic island.

Government officials have insisted that the pause on the Bill is only temporary.

A government spokesperson said Britain remains “fully committed to the deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia [the largest island in the Chagos archipelago], which is vital for our national security.”

They added: “This is irresponsible and reckless behaviour by peers whose role is to check legislation, not interfere with our national security priorities.”

A Labour Lords official claimed the postponement was “simply a response to Tory peers having flexed their much greater numbers in the house by tabling a wrecking amendment to a government Bill just hours before the end of business ahead of a scheduled debate on the next sitting day.”