Angela Rayner 'goes over Sadiq Khan's head' to decide whether to allow China to build a superembassy around the former Royal Mint
- Following Labour's election, the Chinese government resubmitted proposals for an embassy in London that had been rejected by local authorities in 2022.
- Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State, has intervened by calling in the application for ministerial consideration amid concerns over China's treatment of the Uyghur people.
- This decision has sparked criticism and debate regarding Labour's stance toward China and its implications for human rights.
In London, Angela Rayner has intervened in the decision regarding a controversial Chinese embassy project which has resurfaced after being previously refused by the Tower Hamlets Council in 2022. Following the change of governance after Labour's election, China resubmitted its plans for the embassy located opposite Tower Bridge without significant alterations. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that Rayner, the Secretary of State, has now called in the application for ministerial consideration amidst rising tensions concerning China's treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority. Concerns among campaigners and politicians arose with implications of this decision, suggesting a potential shift in Labour's approach toward China. Local inquiries into the project will be conducted to evaluate all relevant aspects, while skepticism remains over the motivations behind Rayner's decision. The context involves a complex interplay of international relations, domestic politics, and longstanding issues regarding human rights abuses attributed to China.