China embassy deal crosses.a red line, Labour MP warns

A Labour MP has issued a warning to Sir Keir Starmer as he helps lead protests against the government giving the green light to a controversial new Chinese embassy in London.

- DAVID MADDOX

East Renfrewshire MP Blair McDougall, a member of the foreign affairs select committee, yesterday joined other MPs including former security minister Tom Tugendhat and shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick in a protest against the proposed new building.

His intervention comes amid growing concerns over attempts by Sir Keir’s government to build relations with China at a time when the new Donald Trump administration in the US is on the cusp of a trade war with the communist country.

But of greater concern is human rights abuses in China, including persecution of the Uyghur population and the way that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has abandoned large aspects of its deal with the UK over guarantees for free speech in Hong Kong. This includes businessman Jimmy Lai, 77, who recently passed his 1,500th day imprisoned in Hong Kong on politically motivated charges.