Rayner asks China to explain blanked-out mega-embassy plans

Home of Commons through ReutersAs effectively as deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner is secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Native GovernmentAngela Rayner has given China two weeks to elucidate why components of its plans for a brand new mega-embassy in London have been blanked out.The deputy prime minister’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities despatched a letter asking for additional info and requested a response by 20 August, the BBC understands. Beijing’s plans for the brand new embassy have sparked fears its location – Royal Mint Courtroom close to London’s monetary district – might pose an espionage danger. Residents close by additionally concern it might pose a safety danger to them and appeal to giant protests. The BBC has contacted the Chinese language embassy in London for remark. China purchased the outdated Royal Mint Courtroom for £255m in 2018. At 20,000 sq. metres, the advanced would be the greatest embassy in Europe if it goes forward.The plan includes a cultural centre and housing for 200 employees, however within the basement, behind safety doorways, there are additionally rooms with no recognized use on the plans.There are issues, held by some opponents, that the Royal Mint Courtroom website might permit China to infiltrate the UK’s monetary system by tapping into fibre optic cables carrying delicate information for corporations within the Metropolis of London.Professional-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong additionally concern Beijing might use the massive embassy to harass political opponents and even detain them. Final month, the UK condemned money presents from Hong Kong authorities for individuals who assist in the arrest of pro-democracy activists residing in Britain.EPAChina purchased the outdated Royal Mint Courtroom for £255m in 2018A closing planning resolution on the controversial plans will probably be made by 9 September, the BBC understands.In a letter seen by the PA information company, Rayner, who as housing secretary is answerable for overseeing planning issues, asks planning consultants representing the Chinese language embassy to elucidate why drawings of the deliberate website are blacked out.The Residence Workplace and the International Workplace additionally acquired copies of the letter.It notes that the Residence Workplace requested a brand new “onerous perimeter” be positioned across the embassy website, to stop “unregulated public entry”, and says this might require an extra planning software.PA MediaPlans for China’s new mega-embassy have sparked protests from pro-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong, in addition to Uighurs and Tibetans.Beijing’s software for the embassy had beforehand been rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 over security and safety issues. It resubmitted an similar software in August 2024, one month after Labour got here to energy. On 23 August, Sir Keir Starmer phoned Chinese language President Xi Jinping for his or her first talks. Sir Keir confirmed afterwards that Xi had raised the embassy problem.Rayner has since exercised her energy to take the matter out of the council’s fingers amid makes an attempt by the federal government to interact with China after a cooling of relations throughout the closing years of Conservative Social gathering rule.Senior ministers have signalled they’re in favour if minor changes are made to the plan. Alicia Kearns, the shadow nationwide safety minister, stated: “No surprises right here – Labour’s rush to appease Xi Jinping’s calls for for a brand new embassy demonstrated a complacency when it got here to protecting our individuals protected. Having deluded themselves for therefore lengthy, they’ve recognised we had been proper to be vigilant.”Responding to safety issues earlier this week, the Chinese language embassy instructed the BBC it was “dedicated to selling understanding and the friendship between the Chinese language and British peoples and the event of mutually useful cooperation between the 2 nations. “Constructing the brand new embassy would assist us higher carry out such tasks”.