Labour has been accused of ‘capitulating’ to China after signalling its support for a new Chinese mega-embassy in the heart of London.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday revealed the Met police had ‘withdrawn their objection’ to China’s plans.
In a joint letter to the Planning Inspectorate for England, they emphasised the ‘importance of countries having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals’.
The announcement comes days after Rachel Reeves visited Beijing and Shanghai, securing a £600 million growth deal.
Last night Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Daily Mail: ‘Labour’s priority is to suck up to China no matter the cost.
‘This is an embassy for a brutal repressive Government that dismisses human rights, practices slave labour and genocide.
‘It’s also important to remember the proposed site is home to 250 British citizens.
‘But it is clear Labour does not care about them.’
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at a meeting this week
The former Royal Mint in London on December 6, 2024, a site favoured by the Chinese authorities as a home for it’s new embassy
Labour has signalled its support for a new Chinese mega-embassy in London
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Robert Jenrick added on X: ‘Another day, another capitulation.’
This week, British security services warned the proposed complex at Royal Mint Court sits atop key fibre-optic cables vital to Britain’s internet network and the City’s sensitive communication lines.
Police had previously raised significant concerns about their ability to ‘accommodate protests’ that they expect will take place outside the embassy.
The proposals for the site had previously been rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 citing safety and security concerns.
In October 2024 the Government ‘called in’ the application so the final decision now belongs to the Secretary of State for Housing and Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner, not the council.
Ministers are understood to be poised to support the plans once China agrees to change a ‘small element of the design’ and forgo diplomatic accreditation of the seven other diplomatic premises spread across London.
Tower Hamlets Councillor Peter Golds said: ‘This will be the largest embassy in Europe, a centre of potential disinformation located not only on a world heritage site but adjacent to the City of London, a world financial centre.
‘The Government must come clean as to what discussions they have actually had with the Chinese Government on this matter.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday revealed the Met police had ‘withdrawn their objection’ to China’s plans
Human rights campaigner Luke De Pulford questioned how ‘operationally independent’ the police force was following its U-turn.
‘As recently as December the Met was strongly opposed to the Embassy development.
‘Now they’ve mysteriously changed their minds, and we learned about it from two senior ministers. Clearly the Government has nobbled them.’
Director of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation Mark Sabah stated: ‘This is a dereliction of duty to the British population.
‘We have Chinese spies on trial, a British citizen Jimmy Lai in jail in Hong Kong, bounties from the CCP on the heads of people living in the UK, interference on our campuses and an ever growing list of transgressions by China and the CCP against the UK.
‘This must be stopped immediately, before it’s too late.’
A UK Government spokesman said that national security was its ‘first duty’, adding: ‘It has been our core priority throughout this process.
‘That is why the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office submitted written representations to reflect these considerations and to note the importance of all states having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals.’
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has given support to ‘all states having functioning diplomatic premises in each other’s capitals’
The department for Housing and Communities and Local Government as well as the Met police have chosen not to comment.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said: ‘The resubmitted planning application has taken into full consideration the UK’s planning policy and guidance as well as views of all relevant parties.
‘Host countries have the international obligation to support and facilitate the building of the premises of diplomatic missions.
‘It is hoped that the UK side will consider and approve this planning application.
‘The Chinese Embassy in the UK is committed to promoting understanding and the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples.
‘Building the new embassy at an early date would help us better perform such responsibilities.’
