Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed that China has lifted sanctions on six serving British MPs and peers following his visit to Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping. The move is seen as a significant sign of warming bilateral relations.
The sanctions were imposed in 2021 on nine UK citizens, including five Conservative MPs and two members of the House of Lords, after they highlighted human rights violations against the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. Beijing had described the allegations as 'lies and disinformation'.
Speaking in China, Starmer said: 'I know that the action taken in relation to our parliamentarians has been a real cause of concern... the restrictions no longer apply. President Xi said to me that that means all parliamentarians are welcome.' He argued that engagement allows difficult issues to be raised.
However, the affected MPs and peers said they would not stop speaking out against human rights abuses. They criticised the 'selective lifting of sanctions solely on sitting parliamentarians', noting that an academic, Dr Jo Smith Finley, and barrister Geoffrey Nice KC remain subject to the measures, possibly including their families.
Starmer also opened the door to a UK visit from Xi, suggesting he would be welcome at the G20 summit in 2027, which the UK is hosting. Asked about US President Donald Trump's comments that dealing with Beijing was 'very dangerous', Starmer downplayed the remark, saying Trump was 'probably talking more about Canada than the United Kingdom'.
