Former Foreign Secretary fumes: ‘Keir Starmer lacks the backbone to stand up to Beijing’
The proposed site of China’s ‘mega-embassy’ (Image: Getty)
Britain’s intelligence chiefs were denied the chance to raise concerns about China’s plans to establish a giant embassy across the road from the Tower or London, opponents of the massive development claim. Sir James Cleverly, a former Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, accused Labour of having “silenced” security experts and said Sir Keir Starmer was “kowtowing to China” in the hope of winning investment.
Tories have demanded answers as to why the Government did not trigger a special provision to allow the country’s intelligence agencies about the planning application without their evidence being passed to the Chinese Government. The embassy would be the biggest of any country’s in Europe and there are fears it could be used as a base for espionage and the intimidation of dissidents.
Sara Rydkvist of Amnesty International said: “China’s proposed mega-embassy is increasing fear among the Chinese and Hong Kong communities in the UK, which are already being threatened by Beijing’s transnational repression. Activists and students are being intimidated, harassed and silenced by the long-arm of the Chinese state in this country.
“The UK Government must prove to these communities that it recognises the dangers they face and clearly explain how it is increasing monitoring and protection measures to ensure their safety and protect their rights to freedom of expression.”
The Government can ensure that sensitive information about security risks is not disclosed during planning inquiries by issuing a “Section 321 direction”. The Conservatives are asking why the Labour Government has not taken this step, warning that otherwise “MI5’s representations would be handed over to the Chinese Government”.
Sir James, who is now Shadow Communities Secretary, hit out at the Government, saying: “Labour are forcing through the plan for a Chinese super-embassy in the heart of London despite obvious national security concerns. Ministers refused to allow our security services to submit evidence in a private hearing, and now won’t say why.
“Our security experts have been silenced and that tells you all you need to know.”
Turning his guns on the prime minister, he said: “Keir Starmer lacks the backbone to stand up to Beijing. He is kowtowing to China in the vain hope he will be rewarded with some investment in the failing economy he presides over.”
Shadow Communities Secretary James Cleverly is concerned about the embassy plans (Image: Getty)
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat also voiced concerns about the plans for the embassy at the Royal Mint Court site, purchased by China in 2018 for £255million.
He said: “China’s diplomats have attacked people in Manchester, tried to silence debates in our university, and are now looking to expand their influence from the new embassy. This new development sends a very worrying message to all those concerned about China’s influence in the UK.”
The plans have attracted cross-party opposition and a decision is expected “on or before January 20”. The embassy would cover 22,000 sq meters and a further concern is that one of more than 200 underground rooms would be located next to cables used to transmit financial data to the City of London.
Last year China “strongly” urged the UK to “approve our planning application quickly to avoid further undermining the mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides”. This followed a warning that the “UK has shown a total lack of the spirit of contract, credibility and ethics, and has repeatedly put off the approval of the project citing various excuses and linked the project with other issues, constantly complicating and politicising the matter”.
