'We'll protect UK interests' says PM as China talk grows

SIR Keir Starmer insisted he would "robustly" protect the UK’s national interests in response to speculation he will visit China early next year and the country's controversial embassy in London will be approved.

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The Prime Minister said that no visit to China had yet been confirmed, while officials refused to comment on speculation about the planned embassy near the Tower of London.

But Sir Keir defended his approach to dealing with Xi Jinping’s country, which was to “cooperate where we can and challenge where we must, particularly on national security.

The decision on the embassy is due next month and The Times reported it had been cleared by MI5 and MI6.

The newspaper reported the Home Office and the Foreign Office will not raise any formal objections to the plan, providing that “mitigations” are put in place to protect national security.