Starmer Branded ‘Peking’s Poodle’ Over China Mega-Embassy Plan

Keir Starmer is facing a furious backlash from across Parliament as he prepares to approve China’s plan for a vast new embassy in London — a move critics say risks Britain’s security and humiliates the country on the world stage.

The Prime Minister was accused of a “craven kowtow” to Beijing, with opponents warning he is sacrificing national security in exchange for hoped-for trade deals ahead of his first official visit to China later this month. Blueprints for the proposed embassy, which would be the largest Chinese diplomatic site in Europe, reveal a hidden chamber positioned just metres from sensitive fibre-optic cables carrying financial data to the City of London.

Not a single MP rose to defend the plan in the Commons. Seven Labour backbenchers publicly opposed it, citing China’s human rights record and growing intimidation of Hong Kong dissidents in the UK. Nine more Labour MPs have written directly to Communities Secretary Steve Reed urging him to reject the application before a looming deadline.

The controversy has also triggered alarm among Britain’s allies. Reports suggest the White House is “deeply concerned”, forcing the UK to reassure the US and others that no classified data passes through the cables adjacent to the site.

Adding to the embarrassment, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle rebuked the Government for sending a junior housing minister — rather than a Home Office figure — to answer MPs’ concerns about espionage and repression. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has apologised for failing to investigate allegations that Chinese officials monitored protesters near the embassy site.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Starmer of acting as “Peking’s poodle” and a “useful idiot” for Xi Jinping, warning that the Prime Minister is gambling with Britain’s security to rescue a faltering economy.

Key Takeaways

• No MP backed the embassy plan, with Labour rebels leading the opposition

• Security fears centre on secret rooms near vital City of London data cables

• US and allies alarmed, raising concerns over espionage and UK credibility

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL

No reason why the cables cant be moved or rerouted if that is a big concern.