Rayner asks China to explain blanked-out embassy plans

Angela Rayner has given China two weeks to explain why portions of its proposals for a new mega-embassy in London have been held out. The deputy prime minister's Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government sent a letter requesting more information and requesting a response by August 20th, according to the BBC. Beijing's latest embassy proposals have sparked skepticism that its location, Royal Mint Court, near London's financial district, could pose an espionage risk. Residents in the area are also concerned that this could put a security risk to them and sparked widespread demonstrations. The Chinese embassy in London has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

According to the BBC, a final decision on the controversial proposals will be made by 9 September. In a letter seen by PA news agency Rayner, who is in charge of planning, asks planning consultants representing the Chinese embassy to explain why drawings of the proposed site have been blacked out. Copies of the letter were also received by the Home Office and the Foreign Office. The Home Office has requested a new hard perimeter be erected around the embassy building in order to discourage unsupervised public access, according to the report, which could necessitate a separate planning application. Some commentators are concerned that the Royal Mint Court sitecould allow China to penetrate the UK's financial system by tapping into fibre optic cables carrying critical information for firms in the City of London.

Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are also concerned that Beijing might use the huge embassy to intimidate political opponents and even arrest them. Last month, the UKcondemned cash offers from Hong Kong authorities for those who aid in the detention of pro-democracy activists in the United Kingdom. No surprises here, Labour's scramble to appease Xi Jinping's demands for a new embassy demonstrated complacency when it came to protecting our civilians. They've deluded themselves for so long, and they've understood we were right to be cautious.

Responding to security concerns earlier this week, the Chinese embassy told the BBC that it was

In 2018, China bought the old Royal Mint Court for £255 million. If the complex goes further, it will be Europe's biggest embassy at 20,000 square meters. The project calls for a cultural center and housing for 200 people, but there are also rooms that have no identified use on the site, including in the basement, behind security doors.

Tower Hamlets Council had rejected Beijing's request for the embassy in 2022 due to safety and security issues. In August 2024, the Labour Party submitted a similar request one month after Labour came to power. Sir Keir Starmer called Chinese President Xi Jinping on August 23 for their first talks. Afterwards, Sir Keir revealed that Xi had raised the embassy issue. Rayner has since exercised her right to demand that the matter be taken out of the council's hands amid government attempts to engage with China after a cooling of relations during the last years of Conservative Party rule. Senior ministers have voiced that if minor changes are made to the scheme, they are in favour.

Subscribe to our Politics Essential newsletter to stay up to date with Westminster's inner workings and beyond.