Kemi Badenoch expresses concern over plans for Chinese mega-embassy

Evening Standard

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the Government to stop China’s proposed central London “mega-embassy” when she spoke at a protest on Saturday.The Government is facing mounting calls to reject Beijing’s plans for the embassy at Royal Mint Court over security concerns.

Transcript

00:00I think it's really important that we tell the country what is going on with this mega embassy.

00:06We are very worried as the Conservative Party that it could end up being a disaster, a base for spying.

00:12We've seen the actions of the Chinese government in other places.

00:16There's a lot to be worried about impromptu police stations being used to house people who are abducted and arrested, ultra-virus.

00:25And I'm also generally worried about the government's approach to China.

00:30I think Keir Starmer wants to go to Beijing next week.

00:33But actually, he is not paying attention to the real worries that people have around national interest.

00:39Look at the world. You look at what's happening with Russia's war in Ukraine.

00:42You look at what's happening in Venezuela.

00:44It is becoming an increasingly dangerous world.

00:47And what we see is an axis of authoritarian states, Russia, Iran, China, they're collaborating.

00:53They're working together against the British national interest.

00:56What I want to see is a prime minister with a backbone who can stand toe-to-toe with the Chinese leader

01:02and say, no, we're not going to have this until you explain what's happening with the spying,

01:07until you explain what's happening with trade disruption, undercutting British businesses.

01:11There's so much that's going wrong.

01:12And that's what I want to see from our prime minister.

01:14There's so much that's going on here.

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