The Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has publicly demanded the government block China's controversial plans for a vast new embassy in central London, joining a large weekend protest at the proposed site.
Leaders Unite in Opposition at Royal Mint Court
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Royal Mint Court site, near the Tower of London, on Saturday afternoon. They were joined by senior political figures voicing strong security and ethical concerns over Beijing's ambitious proposal. Alongside Mrs Badenoch, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Liberal Democrat MP Bobby Dean, and Reform UK's Danny Kruger also addressed the crowd.
The protest comes amid reports that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is on the verge of finally approving the long-delayed application. Ministers have pledged a final decision by January 20 and have previously declined to comment ahead of that deadline.
"A Government Scared of China"
Speaking passionately to the assembled crowd, Kemi Badenoch framed the issue as a fundamental defence of British freedom against authoritarianism. "I am standing with you today, because I know what it is like to live without freedom," she stated, drawing on her personal experience.
She accused China of a pattern of hostile behaviour, including harassing British MPs and nationals, aiding Russia, and disrupting global trade. "We do not want a country that spies on our MPs having this super-embassy right here," she declared.
In a direct challenge to the Labour government, she said, "What worries me is that we have a Government right now that seems to be scared of China... too weak, no backbone." She suggested the impending approval was linked to pressure from Beijing and Starmer's upcoming visit to China, questioning the government's honesty on the matter.
Security Fears: Secret Rooms and Data Cables
The plans, as reported by The Telegraph, include 208 secret rooms and a hidden chamber. Critics fear the basement rooms could be used to detain Chinese dissidents who have sought refuge in the UK. Furthermore, the hidden chamber's proposed location is near crucial data cables linking the City of London with Canary Wharf, raising fears of espionage against the financial sector.
However, these concerns have been challenged by Ciaran Martin, former head of the National Cyber Security Centre. He described the rooms as standard "classified facilities" for diplomatic work and suggested the intelligence services would have thoroughly vetted the plans. Badenoch countered this, saying such assurances were "not enough" and pointing to last year's collapsed spy case as evidence of "systemic failures".
The anxiety is shared locally. Mark Nygate of the Royal Mint Court Residents Association said locals are "very worried about their safety, their security, their privacy" and are fundraising for a potential judicial review.
A Symbol of UK Priorities
For protesters like Chloe Cheung, a 20-year-old Hong Kong activist with a bounty on her head from Hong Kong authorities, the embassy is both a practical and symbolic threat. "If the British Government is giving them the biggest embassy in Europe, it's kind of saying that China is now their most important partner on Earth," she said, arguing the government was prioritising trade over safety.
Other speakers echoed this theme. Bobby Dean accused Starmer of taking "a begging bowl to Beijing" and demanded he cancel his trip unless Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is freed. Iain Duncan Smith warned of a new axis of tyranny involving China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Danny Kruger stated the UK "must not let itself be bought by the Chinese Communist Party."
With the January 20 decision date looming, the political and public pressure on Sir Keir Starmer's government to reject the mega-embassy plans is now intense and highly public.
