Keir Starmer has been accused of delivering a “deeply embarrassing” speech in defence of his planned give-away of the Chagos Islands.

The Prime Minister spoke at a meeting of the UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council today, where he was forced to insist that the handover of the islands to Mauritius will not pave the way for further giveaways in the coming years.

Sir Keir told attendees: “I do just want to just quickly touch on the issue of the Chagos Islands because I know you have talked about it, discussed it, and it’s been much discussed in the news.”

“We inherited a situation where the l ong-term secure operation of the military base was at risk. There was no doubt about that.

“It was a unique situation, with unique history and unique circumstances. And it has no bearing on other overseas territories, no matter how much other people try to spin it. It has got absolutely no bearing on any of you.”

However he has now been branded “deeply embarrassing” for the very fact he had to make the reassurance in the first place.

This evening Lord Blencathra, President of the Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories, said: “When you have to spend half your speech trying to justify your decision on the Chagos Islands to the other British Overseas Territories, it is both deeply embarrassing and you know you are in serious trouble.”

“The PM was forced today give basic reassurances to the other Overseas Territories that he will not sell them out in the same way that he’s sold out the Chagos Islands and the Chagossian people.

“This is deeply humiliating. This is not how it should be and how can they trust him after what he’s done on Chagos.

“There was nothing in Keir Starmer’s speech that conveyed anything of Britain’s responsibilities or duties to our Overseas Territories.

“The Chagos deal is dead in the water and the sooner Kier Starmer realises this and pulls the plug, the better as its clearly damaging the relations with the other Overseas Territories.”

There remain questions about whether the deal will no go ahead at all following the election victory of Donald Trump.

While the Biden White House was largely supportive of the UK Government’s decision, many people around Mr Trump have been openly critical of the giveaway in the past, including his new pick for National Security Advisor.

This week it was revealed that the PM’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands also risks costing the Ministry of Defence hundreds of millions of pounds.

While Britain will continue having use of its military base on the island for a number of years, it will need to be leased from Mauritius, with the cost coming from the MoD budget.

Ministers are continuing to refuse to specify how much Britain will pay each year in return for use of the base.