Huge blow for Keir Starmer as Chinese super embassy hits major blockage | Politics | News
Luke de Pulford, co-founder and Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, wrote about X: “Judicial Review challenge against China [Chinese] mega embassy STARTED! Preliminary Application Letter @StopTheEmbassy“The firm is extremely strong, supported by a top legal team.”
In the document, the Royal Mint Residents’ Association lists five reasons why they oppose approval of the project. They argue that the decision was flawed because diplomatic protocols did not make it possible to maintain the safeguards imposed on the UK government’s plans.
It also alleges that critical safety assessments were not disclosed during the public inquiry and that the decision was influenced by “insignificant assessments”.
These included assessments of UK-China relations and a desire to gain approval from Beijing for the modernization of the British embassy in the city. Finance Times reports.
Opponents are also seeking relevant documents and communications between the British and China upon approval by the London embassy.
It comes after Sir Keir was accused of traveling to China “carrying the deeds of the embassy in his back pocket” without assurances that jailed pro-democracy activist and British citizen Jimmy Lai would be released by Beijing.
The Prime Minister came under fire in Parliament from human rights campaigner Lord Alton of Liverpool, who had previously been sanctioned by the communist regime.
In response, foreign secretary Baroness Chapman of Darlington argued that Mr Lai, 78, the founder of the now-defunct Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, should be released immediately, but said the Government “cannot get everything we want in one visit”.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper accused the Prime Minister of going “hand in glove” to Beijing.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “China matters and it would be a dereliction of duty to ignore them. We will build a coherent, long-term and strategic approach based on reality.”
“And that’s what our allies are doing – President Trump, Macron, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Carney, they’re all visiting and interacting. We will cooperate wherever we can, and I’m sure they will expect us to cooperate in areas like climate, and fight in areas where we disagree.”
