As many of my constituents know, China has big plans for the former Royal Mint Site; significantly, this is in the heart of our nation’s capital. They want it to be converted into, not just their largest diplomatic mission in Europe, but the largest embassy of any nation in Europe. Hot on the heels of Labour’s unbelievable Chagos Islands sell out to Mauritius, a close ally of China, these terrible plans were approved by the Labour Government on the 20th of January 2026 despite fierce resistance from the Conservatives as the Official Opposition.
My Conservative colleagues and I have opposed the Chinese super-embassy throughout this process. We are clear; we do believe this embassy is a real national security threat, as laid out by Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP when she led a protest outside the proposed site for the Super Embassy
Kemi Badenoch joins protesters calling for government to stop China mega-embassy
As Rt Hon Iain Duncan-Smith MP wrote in the Telegraph on the 21st of January,
'The approval completely ignores the threat that China poses to the UK and, frankly, to the whole of the free world. You only have to look at the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee report 2023-2025, which concluded: “China has penetrated every sector of the UK economy.” The report goes on to point out that this threat to the UK manifests itself in many different ways.’
It has been, rightly, well reported the Chinese Government has redacted documents from the planning process, showing rooms that are blacked out in the basement, and refused to hand over the full planning drawings for the embassy. The Conservatives sounded the alarm about this back in April 2025 - reported in the media as a ‘secret spy dungeon plan’ for the embassy. Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, the current Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, admitted in his decision letter that he does not have access to secret drawings but gave permission to the embassy anyway! In fact, the Labour Government has given their consistent and determined support for the embassy, with the Prime Minister and his senior Ministers intervening personally in support of the application.
The location of this ‘mega embassy’ is directly alongside sites of national importance, presenting a potential threat of foreign interference, including key fibre-optic cables vital to Britain’s internet network and London’s communication lines. Despite the location of these key cables that also connect the financial sectors of Canary Wharf and the City of London, Minister Reed chose to dismiss the real cyber security concerns. However, in what is now a pattern of chaotic moves and U-turns, Labour are saying they will move or change the cables to protect them, despite initially saying that they were not a security risk.
On this point, my colleague, Iain Duncan Smith MP, wrote,
‘It is also unbelievable that on the day the Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, releases his grant letter concerning the planning permission, he includes this pathetic statement to say that the strategically vital internet cables, which run right by the super-embassy site, should not present a problem if there is lawful embassy use.
We already know that China actively conducts unlawful espionage in the UK, directed at our institutions, intelligence services and parliament – as well as individuals including myself, who are sanctioned. This statement by Steve Reed is a cop-out as he knows, only too well, that the embassy will conduct unlawful activity, and the Government will do nothing in response.’
In the summer, following the 2024 general election, the Chinese Government reapplied for planning permission for the site despite their plans having been previously rejected by Tower Hamlets Council, the Mayor of London and the previous Conservative Government. It is also concerning to read of first-hand reports of disproportionately low offers to residents who live near or on the proposed site to sell their homes.
Prime Minister Starmer and his senior Ministers have waved through this application despite repeated warnings from the Met Police and our national security services about the site and in complete contravention of the clear and well-expressed opinions of local people. On top of this, by not issuing a Section 321 direction, the Government did not allow security services to submit evidence without it being shared with the Chinese Government, as the other side in the planning process.
The Chinese state is a hostile intelligence power. The Government has approved in our view, the site for diplomatic convenience, rather than blocking it in the interest of our national security, confirming what we all knew, Labour cannot be trusted to stand up for Britain on the international stage.
I understand the Royal Mint Court Resident's Association do say they will challenge the legality of the government's decision with planning law specialist Lord Charles Banner KC instructed to act for them. In addition, they have the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group set up to hold China to account on democracy and human rights issues. I will keep you updated on this vital matter.
You may also be interested in reading this statement: China March 26
