Angela Rayner ‘goes through Sadiq Khan’s head’ to decide whether to allow China to build super-embassy around former Royal Mint

Angela Rayner has “gotten 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 located in the former Royal Mint, which the Chinese government bought six years ago, and would be one of the largest embassies in the world if built.

However, original plans for the embassy, ​​opposite Tower Bridge, were rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022 and China was believed to have scrapped the plans.

UK government officials said Beijing was upset by the suggestion they would have to deal with a local authority and frustrated that Britain’s central government, then led by the Conservatives, did not intervene.

After the Labor election, Beijing re-introduced the proposals in August without making any major changes.

The proposed consulate is located in the former Royal Mint, which the Chinese government bought six years ago, and would be one of the largest embassies in the world if built.

Secretary of State Angela Rayner (pictured) had ‘convened’ the scheme just days before David Lammy’s trip to China

If plans go ahead, the embassy will be one of the largest diplomatic bases in the world. In the photo: the old building of the Royal Mint

James Cleverly took to Twitter/X to ask why Angela Rayner was ‘over Sadiq Khan’s head’

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed today that Secretary of State Angela Rayner had ‘called in’ the scheme’, the FT reported.

It was just days before Foreign Secretary David Lammy traveled to Beijing to meet his Chinese counterpart.

Conservative MP Neil O’Brien questioned whether Ms Rayner’s move was part of a wider Labor plan to “suck China” which included Mr Lammy’s visit.

Responding to the news online, shadow home secretary James Cleverly said: “The timing of the call raises many questions.

‘Why now? Did Beijing put this condition for the FS visit?

“Did Angela Rayner receive advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) about this? Why has it gone through Sadiq Khan’s head?”

Tower Hamlets has the highest proportion of Muslim residents in the country of any local authority, with a total of almost 40%.

Activists protested the site because of China’s crackdown on the Muslim Uyghur people.

James Cleverly (pictured) said: “Did Angela Rayner get advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on this?

Deputy First Minister Rayner will conduct 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 safety grounds as well as the impact on local residents.

Deputy First Minister Rayner will conduct 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 bought the Royal Mint Court in London for use as a new Chinese embassy facility. The UK government had given your consent to this.

“We are now in the process of applying for a planning permit.

“The resubmitted planning application has taken full account of UK planning policy and guidance, as well as the views of all relevant parties. This is a high quality development plan.

Host countries have an international obligation to support and facilitate the construction of diplomatic mission facilities.

“Both China and the UK have a need to build a new embassy in each other’s capital, and the two sides should facilitate each other.”

A spokesman for MHCLG said: “Applications for a new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets have been invited for Ministers to decide. A final decision will be made in due course.

Mr Lammy traveled to the Chinese capital on Friday to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and is scheduled to visit Shanghai on Saturday.

British 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 located in the former Royal Mint, which the Chinese government bought 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 recognize China’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority as genocide.

Mr Lammy took a hard line on state-sponsored brutality when Labor was in opposition, saying the party would pursue legal avenues to declare it genocide.

But ahead of his arrival in the Far East this morning, No10 refused to confirm that was still the case.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the government would “challenge” China on issues such as human rights, but declined to repeat the foreign secretary’s pre-election language.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Alicia Kearns told the Mail: “Labour swore they would declare genocide and take it to international legal tribunals for a determination. So those are two things they are backing up.’

And peer Neil O’Brien, one of the MPs officially sanctioned by China, added: (The government is) embarking on a naive attempt to suck China up in which our own industrial interests will be trampled as we pursue an illusory dream of a special relationship with a superpower that is hostile to us”.

Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ reading of the meeting of Mr. Lammy does not directly mention Taiwan, a source confirmed that the issue came up at the foreign minister’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

Lammy, who has condemned China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan, reiterated Britain’s long-standing position on Taiwan to Yi, the source added.