In a dramatic parliamentary confrontation, Labour's Jonathan Ashworth has launched a blistering attack on Rishi Sunak's recent cabinet reshuffle, directly targeting Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch as being "too weak" to confront China's growing influence.
The shadow cabinet minister didn't hold back during Prime Minister's Questions, accusing the Prime Minister of assembling a team incapable of standing up to authoritarian regimes. "The reshuffle has left us with a Business Secretary too weak to stand up to China," Ashworth declared across the Commons despatch box.
Political Theatre at PMQs
The exchange turned particularly heated when Ashworth challenged Sunak directly about his government's approach to Beijing. The Labour frontbencher's remarks came amid growing concerns about China's economic and political ambitions on the global stage.
Sunak fired back with his own criticism of Labour's stance, creating a tense atmosphere in the chamber that highlighted the deepening political divisions over foreign policy and national security.
Broader Reshuffle Fallout
The confrontation reflects wider discontent with Sunak's recent ministerial changes, which have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Ashworth's comments suggest Labour sees vulnerability in the government's foreign policy approach, particularly regarding economic relations with China.
This public dressing-down represents one of the most direct challenges to Badenoch's authority since her appointment, raising questions about how the Business Secretary will respond to the accusations of weakness in dealing with one of the world's emerging superpowers.
The exchange sets the stage for what promises to be a contentious period in UK-China relations, with the opposition clearly signalling they intend to make the government's approach a key battleground in coming political debates.
