Badenoch joined protesters seeking to stop the Chinese ’embassy’

Saturday 17 January 2026 16:17
| Updated:

Saturday 17 January 2026 16:18

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Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called on the Government to halt the proposed construction of a “huge embassy” in central London as she spoke at a protest on Saturday.

The government faces increasing calls to reject Beijing’s plans to set up an embassy at the Royal Mint Court due to security concerns.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the site on Saturday afternoon, some carrying flags and banners, chanting “no embassy”.

Mrs Badenoch said: “I stand here with you today because I believe in freedom.

“I support you today, because I know what it is like to live without freedom.

“We take this for granted in the UK because we’ve had it for a long time, but those who live under oppressive regimes, those who live under authoritarianism, those who live under communism, know what suffering is like, and we don’t want to see it here.

“So I speak now as leader of the Opposition, leader of the Conservative Party: I stand with you, I tell you that I will always fight for freedom, and I call on the Government to stop this decision.

“We don’t want a country that spies on our lawmakers to have an embassy here, and I will do everything in my power to continue to speak out on your behalf.”

He said China was a country that “harassed and sanctioned our MPs”, “harassed and persecuted British citizens with links to China”, “helped our enemies, such as Russia”, and “disrupted the global trading system”.

Mrs Badenoch also said the government “seems afraid of China”.

He said: “We know that we have to stand up to China’s abuses. And what worries me is that we have an administration right now that seems afraid of China.

“We have a government that is fearful, too weak and has no backbone. What we need now is a government that will act in Britain’s national interests and protect the people who are fighting for the suffering Chinese people.”

Plans for the site, near the Tower of London, include 208 secret rooms and hidden rooms, The Telegraph reports.

Critics fear the secret chamber, located in the site’s basement, could be used to detain dissidents who have fled China to Britain.

The hidden space will be located close to data cables said to be vital for financial sector communications between the City of London and Canary Wharf.

Ministers have promised to take a decision on whether to grant the Chinese embassy planning permission by January 20.

They insisted that it would be inappropriate for them to comment before that date.

By PA reporter