Top Tory slams Chinese mega embassy as ‘absolute insanity’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Iain Duncan Smith has led a protest in opposition to the proposed new Chinese super-embassy in London. The former Tory chief warned China is the “largest threat” that would destabilise the world order.

He was joined by fellow MPs, native residents and dissident teams exterior the Home Office on Tuesday to stress Yvette Cooper over the federal government’s planning determination. Sir Iain stated: “The UK government states Russian, North Korea and Iran are threats to the UK, but that China is simply a ‘challenge’.

“China is not a challenge, it is an ever present threat. The largest threat we face right now that destabilises the world order. China undermines the world trade system by selling cheap goods made with slave labour, it threatens Taiwan on a daily basis and intimidates Hong Kongers who have fled China to the UK.

“Giving the Chinese a mega-embassy in London on top of all our – including security – communications lines is absolute madness. China wants to bring in over 200 spies to live on the proposed complex to wreak havoc with all of those who have fled China to the UK. If it goes ahead it will be a terrible, terrible decision.”

The House of Commons final month heard issues that the proposed 600,000 sq. foot improvement in central London may give rise to dissidents from Hong Kong feeling underneath additional risk, amid circumstances of harassment and bodily assaults.

MPs have beforehand raised the safety threats that they really feel is posed by the location in Royal Mint Court, close to the capital’s monetary district. The plans have been beforehand rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022, with the Chinese opting to not enchantment.

But the Chinese authorities resubmitted the applying a fortnight after Sir Keir Starmer’s election victory final yr, believing Labour could also be extra receptive to the applying.

Since coming into workplace Sir Keir’s authorities has sought nearer hyperlinks with Beijing after a cooling through the remaining years of Conservative Party rule.

The remaining determination will probably be made by Angela Rayner in her function because the Local Government Secretary, who has planning in her remit.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy assured MPs final week that there are “no grubby deals” with China on any concern, together with the proposed “super-embassy”.

Defending the Government, he stated the Chinese “super-embassy” concern is a “quasi-judicial decision that’s been properly made by the Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government”.