Angela Rayner ‘goes over Sadiq Khan’s head’ over Chinese superembassy
Angela Rayner has ‘gone over Sadiq Khan‘s head’ after taking control of the controversial decision to launch a Chinese super embassy in east London.
The proposed consulate is at the former Royal Mint, which the Chinese government purchased six years ago, and would be one of the largest embassies in the world if built.
However, the original plans for the embassy, opposite Tower Bridge, were refused by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 and China was believed to have scrapped the plans.
UK Government officials said that Beijing was annoyed by the suggestion that they should deal with a local authority and frustrated that the British central government, then run by the Conservatives, would not intervene.
Following Labour’s election, Beijing resubmitted the proposals in August without making any major changes.
The proposed consulate is at the former Royal Mint , which the Chinese government purchased six years ago, and would be one of the largest embassies in the world if built
Secretary of State Angela Rayner (pictured) had ‘called in’ the scheme’ just days before David Lammy’s trip to China
If the plans go ahead, the embassy will be one of the largest diplomatic bases across the globe. Pictured: The old Royal Mint building
James Cleverly asked on Twitter/X why Angela Rayner had ‘gone over Sadiq Khan’s head’
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed today that Secretary of State Angela Rayner had ‘called in’ the scheme’, the FT reported.
It came just days before Foreign Secretary David Lammy travelled to Beijing to meet his Chinese counterpart.
Tory MP Neil O’Brien questioned whether Ms Rayner’s move was part of a wider Labour plan to ‘suck up to China’ which included Mr Lammy’s visit.
Responding to the news online, Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly said: ‘The timing of the call in raises a lot of questions.
‘Why now? Did Beijing make this a condition for the FS visit?
‘Did Angela Rayner receive Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice on this? Why has she gone over Sadiq Khan’s head?’
Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of Muslim residents in the country of any local authority, totalling nearly 40 per cent.
Campaigners protested the site due to China’s repression of the Muslim Uyghur people.
James Cleverly (pictured) said: ‘Did Angela Rayner receive Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice on this?’
Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner will hold a local inquiry into the matter to consider all relevant aspects of the proposed development
Tower Hamlets rejected the motion in December 2022 after receiving objections on security grounds and also the impact on local residents.
Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner will hold a local inquiry into the matter to consider all relevant aspects of the proposed development.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London said: ‘Six years ago, the Chinese government purchased the Royal Mint Court, London for the use as the new Chinese embassy premises. The UK government had given its consent to this.
‘Now we are in the process of applying for planning permission.
‘The resubmitted planning application has taken into full consideration the UK’s planning policy and guidance as well as opinions of all relevant parties. This is a high-quality development scheme.
‘Host countries have the international obligation to support and facilitate the building of the premises of diplomatic missions.
‘Both China and the UK have the need to build a new embassy in each other’s capital, and the two sides should provide facilitation to each other.’
A MHCLG spokesperson said: ‘Applications for a new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets have been called in for ministers to decide. A final decision will be made in due course.’
Mr Lammy travelled to the Chinese capital on Friday to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and is set to visit Shanghai on Saturday.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing
The proposed consulate is at the former Royal Mint , which the Chinese government purchased six years ago, and would be one of the largest embassies in the world if built
The Foreign Secretary has been accused of backtracking on plans for the UK to formally recognise China’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority as genocide.
Mr Lammy took a hard line on the state-sponsored brutality when Labour was in opposition, saying the party would pursue legal routes to declaring it a genocide.
But ahead of his arrival in the Far East this morning, No10 refused to confirm this was still the case.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the government would ‘challenge’ China on issues like human rights, but declined to repeat the Foreign Secretary’s pre-election language.
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Kearns told the Mail: ‘Labour swore they’d declare a genocide and take it to legal courts internationally for a determination. So it’s two things they’re backtracking on.’
And colleague Neil O’Brien, one of the MPs officially sanctioned by China, added: [The government is] embarking on a naïve attempt to suck up to China in which our own industrial interests will get trampled as we pursue an illusory dream of a special relationship with a superpower that is hostile to us.’
Despite the Foreign Office readout of Mr Lammy’s meeting making no direct mention of Taiwan, a source confirmed the issue did come up in the Foreign Secretary’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart.
Mr Lammy – who has condemned China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan – reiterated Britain’s long-standing position on Taiwan to Mr Yi, the source added.
