The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has publicly joined protesters demanding the government halt China's controversial plans for a vast new embassy complex in central London. The demonstration took place on Saturday, 17 January 2026, outside the proposed site at Royal Mint Court, near the Tower of London.
Political Leaders Unite in Opposition
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered, brandishing flags and banners and chanting slogans against the so-called "mega-embassy." Mrs Badenoch was joined by several other prominent political figures, including former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Liberal Democrat MP Bobby Dean, and Reform UK's Danny Kruger.
In a fiery speech, Badenoch positioned herself squarely with the protesters, stating her personal commitment to freedom and her opposition to authoritarianism. As the Leader of the Opposition, she explicitly called on the government to stop the development, citing China's record of harassing British MPs and nationals, its support for Russia, and its disruption of global trade.
"We do not want a country that spies on our MPs having this super-embassy right here," she declared, accusing the current Labour government of being "scared of China," "too weak," and lacking "backbone."
Security Concerns and Secret Rooms
The protest comes amid reports that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is on the verge of approving the long-delayed planning application. The proposed embassy has sparked significant alarm due to its reported scale and specific design features.
According to plans reported by The Telegraph, the complex would 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 is said to be situated perilously close to crucial data cables linking the City of London with Canary Wharf, raising fears over the security of financial communications.
These concerns have been echoed by backbench Labour MPs, with nine writing to Communities Secretary Steve Reed this week urging him to reject the application, warning it could be used to "step up intimidation" against dissidents.
Intelligence Scrutiny and Mounting Pressure
Some voices have pushed back against the most dramatic security warnings. Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, suggested the secret rooms were likely standard "classified facilities" for diplomatic work. He also indicated that UK intelligence agencies would have thoroughly vetted the plans and any approval would come with their sign-off.
However, Kemi Badenoch dismissed this reassurance, stating it was "not enough" for her. She pointed to the collapse of a prosecution against two alleged Chinese spies last year due to "systemic failures" as evidence of ongoing vulnerabilities. She suggested the impending approval was linked to pressure from Beijing and Starmer's upcoming trade mission to China, accusing the Prime Minister of not being "honest" about the motives behind the decision.
Liberal Democrat MP Bobby Dean amplified this criticism, accusing Starmer of taking a "begging bowl to Beijing" and demanding he cancel his trip unless Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai is freed.
The government has promised a final decision on planning permission by 20 January 2026. Until that deadline, ministers have declined to comment on the live application. With high-profile cross-party opposition now taking to the streets, the pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to either justify or abandon the proposed embassy has reached a new intensity.
