Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, labelling him "weak" and urging him to block China's proposed 'super-embassy' in central London over significant national security concerns.
Protest at the Royal Mint Site
The political row reached a new intensity as Badenoch addressed a protest of around 500 people at the site of the proposed embassy on Saturday. The demonstration, held at the former Royal Mint Court, was attended by local residents, members of the Chinese and Hong Kong diaspora, and political activists from across the spectrum.
The final decision on the planning application is due on or before January 20, bringing a years-long dispute to a head. China purchased the 215,280 sq ft site from the Crown Estate for £255 million back in 2018, with plans for a vast diplomatic complex.
Security Fears Over 'Spy Centre'
MPs and security experts have repeatedly warned that the embassy's location poses a severe risk. Their primary concern is the building's proximity to a critical network of underground fibre-optic cables along Mansell Street. These cables, owned by companies including BT, Colt Technologies, and Verizon, carry sensitive communications for financial institutions in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
The site is also close to three major data centres, including the London Stock Exchange. Unredacted planning documents reportedly reveal a hidden, triangular room in the north-west corner of the proposed building, measuring up to 40 metres across. This secret chamber, equipped with air extraction systems, is just metres from the vital cable network, fuelling fears it could house equipment for eavesdropping.
'A Government With No Backbone'
In a fiery speech, Badenoch accused the Starmer government of being "scared of China" and having "no backbone." She stated, "We know that we have to stand up to the abuses of China... We do not want a country that spies on our MPs having this super embassy right here."
She linked the issue to fundamental British values, telling the crowd, "I know what it is like to live without freedom... We do not want to see that here." Speaking later to the Daily Mail, the Tory leader said, "My message is, stop this decision. Stop being so terrified of China."
She was joined at the protest by senior Conservative MPs, including Iain Duncan Smith, who stated, "China poses the greatest threat to the UK of any country in the world. Keir Starmer is weak and China knows that." He called the proposed embassy "a blister on the face of freedom in the United Kingdom."
Despite the cross-party outcry, a Whitehall source indicated this week that the embassy will likely be approved, citing a benefit in consolidating China's diplomatic sites. Downing Street has insisted that national security issues have been "considered and addressed." However, with the deadline imminent and political pressure mounting, the final decision will be a major test of the government's stance on Beijing.
