"Approving a Chinese super-embassy in east London could be unlawful if ministers gave Beijing assurances about the project in advance, one of the UK's top planning lawyers has concluded. If Keir Starmer or his team made promises to the Chinese government about the embassy, it could constitute actual or apparent predetermination of the planning application, according to the legal opinion by Lord Banner."
"Ministers are now under pressure to clarify whether they privately assured Chinese officials that they would progress the application after it had stalled under the Conservatives. China reapplied for planning permission weeks after Labour took power last year, and Xi Jinping raised the matter directly with Starmer in their first call in August 2024. Starmer then told the Chinese president on the margins of the G20 summit in November 2024: You raised the Chinese embassy building in London when we spoke on the telephone."
A legal opinion concludes that approving a large Chinese embassy in east London could be unlawful if ministers gave Beijing assurances beforehand, because such promises could amount to actual or apparent predetermination. The opinion was commissioned by residents opposing the proposed embassy, citing security, human rights and planning concerns. China reapplied for planning permission weeks after Labour took power, and Xi Jinping raised the matter with the prime minister in August 2024; the prime minister later said the application had been called in. Opponents are preparing a judicial review if approval proceeds, and the responsible minister must decide objectively. The opinion notes no formal disclosure yet about any assurances but warns a promise would be unfair.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]