Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs over his recent visit to China, with claims that the Government was misled by Beijing. Former security minister Tom Tugendhat raised concerns that Chinese sanctions on British parliamentarians were only partially lifted, singling out the six MPs still banned.
Tugendhat told the Commons that the Prime Minister had returned with a deal that lifted sanctions on those still in the House but not on others, calling it a 'direct affront' to democracy and accusing China of attempting to 'divide and conquer' the UK. Starmer acknowledged the need to go further but defended leader-level engagement.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of a 'supine and short-termist approach' and mocked his return with a Labubu doll as 'next to nothing'. She said the sanctions lifted cost China nothing, as the affected MPs had no intention of travelling there. Starmer retorted that Badenoch's policy was to 'stick her head in the sand'.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey supported the principle of engagement but said Starmer negotiated from a position of weakness, citing the promise of a super-embassy in London. Former minister Sir Andrew Mitchell described the economic outcomes as 'somewhat thin gruel'.
