I went to the China super-embassy protest – religion in Starmer is falling | UK | News | EUROtoday

“No mega-embassy, no mega-embassy”, the group chanted time and again on Saturday’s protest towards China’s super-embassy plan. The feeling of anger and concern amongst protesters  — estimated to be within the hundreds — was sturdy.

Saturday’s demonstration was billed by its organisers because the “last chance” to place stress on Labour to not approve China’s software to show the previous Royal Mint in central London into an embassy. And they actually made their viewpoint crystal clear. Protesters who took to the stage have been highly effective of their phrases and animated of their supply.

They additionally assembled one thing of an all-star forged to heap stress on the Government as cross-party MPs, together with Tory Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Reform UK’s Danny Kruger and Lib Dem Bobby Dean, joined forces to name for the plans to not go forward as anticipated.

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch made an look and obtained heat applause as she took to the stage, the place she did not pull any punches, claiming the Government “seems to be scared of China”.

“I am standing here with you today because I believe in freedom,” she said in an empathetic tone as she addressed the crowd.

“I’m standing with you today, because I know what it is like to live without freedom.

“We take it for granted in the United Kingdom because we have had it for so long, but those who have lived under oppressive regimes, those who have lived under authoritarianism, those who have lived under communism, know what that suffering is like, and we do not want to see that here.”

This was the first time I had attended one of the protests against the so-called super embassy, which Sir Keir Starmer appears set to approve next week.

It was hard to hear how incredibly concerned so many of the protesters were, and it seemed apparent that many were not confident in the PM.

One demonstrator I spoke to was Tenzin Sangmo, an NHS nurse who made the journey to the capital from Bristol.

She’s originally from Tibet and was proudly wearing the Tibet flag as we chatted while the crowd numbers swelled.

“I’m very concerned that this Chinese mega Embassy is going to be like a spy hub, where they will monitor every movement of our diaspora communities,” said Tenzin, who later addressed the crowds on the stage.

“So, being in Britain, a free world, a country that respects democracy, I feel giving this historical space to the Chinese mega embassy is going to be very worrying, and it is a threat to national security.

“That’s why I feel that it’s very important for me to come here and have my right to protest and to tell the Government that they need to rethink this proposal, and especially to Steve Reed [Communities Secretary]. I want to tell him that you need to think very carefully before signing this proposal.”

Jonathan Chang, in his 40s, is from Hong Kong and moved to the UK in the past few years. He said he left his homeland because the political situation was “getting worse and freedom was infringed”.

When asked how concerned he is by the embassy proposals, he said: “The easy reply, I feel it’s extremely horrible.

“You see the plans [for the embassy] on the news; they have many underground chambers.

“I feel they can’t clarify what the aim of these chambers is, perhaps to detain one thing, somebody they do not like or arrest somebody towards their regimes.”

He added: “I’m not fairly optimistic as a result of the present Prime Minister is shopping for to China’s profit.”

There was a feeling among those at the protest that Sir Keir is willing to approve the embassy application because of an economic deal or agreement between the UK and China.

Sir Keir is set to travel to Beijing in the near future, as he looks to secure stronger ties.

Another protester, Clara, put together some of the hundreds of placards she helped bring down from the north of England.

Clara, who is also originally from Hong Kong and is in her 40s, said she is worried the UK is “promoting out” its own national security.

“One necessary message is that we’re nervous the UK will fall for the so-called financial advantages from China, however what we do see is a lie,” Clara explained.

She added: “We are saying that Starmer is placing the nationwide safety of the UK in danger, as a result of he is imagining he can get some commerce advantages from China. We do not assume that is determined.”

One protester drew attention as he wore all black, and a helmet and goggles, which you may expect to be donned by riot police.

His friend told me the clothing was inspired by what protesters in Hong Kong wore in 2019.

The protester, who did not want to be identified, told me: “I ran away from Hong Kong due to China. I do not need the identical factor taking place within the UK.”

When I asked if he was worried about this, he simply nodded his head.

The next few days will likely be a nervous wait for these protesters, although it’s widely expected the controversial embassy will get the green light.

Ministers say they are going to decide on whether or not to approve China’s planning software for the embassy by Tuesday.