The strong suspicion is Starmer bought his ticket to China by his government putting their thumb on the scales on a number of issues where the eventual outcome was of benefit to the Chinese. Moreover will any deal actually be worth what it promises?
The war in Gaza and the loss of life on both sides is a tragedy. But there is no equivalence with the Holocaust.
In the last Parliament many persuaded the Conservative Government not only that we needed a more robust approach to China but we needed a more coherent one too. With the advent of a Labour Government, we appear to have given up on that entirely.
The Foreign Secretary ought to say something to mark the crossing of a new red-line: the labelling of British citizens as criminal in Jimmy Lai’s sham trial.
Whether it is foreigners at risk in China from the regime’s injustice – and “hostage diplomacy” – or the threat to our institutions at home, we need to wake up to the dangers of the Beijing dragon.
It may be possible to be in favour of upholding the GFA and maintaining Northern Ireland’s place in the union whilst also favouring withdrawing from the Convention, but I am struggling to see how.
This list of allies and partners includes Australia, Israel, South Korea, Japan, Oman, Qatar and Singapore.
At a time when the UK is reeling from the impact of cyber attacks by suspected Chinese agents, it is bizarre to chase friendship rather than follow caution.
For all the talk of levelling up ex-industrial towns, the contract for the scheme has been awarded to a mammoth Chinese state-owned company.
The UK and governments across the west have started to act. But we’re still just starting to figure out how to respond.
Due to internal tensions, the Union can lack coherence and focus, often particularly evident in its efforts to implement a collective foreign policy.
The International Trade Secretary joined the panel for a live event with Anand Menon, Katy Balls and Andy Burwell, chaired by Paul Goodman.
This deal risks assisting our adversaries in a well-established information war. China’s model of state capitalism is not confined to its borders. It exports influence, suppresses criticism, and seeks to rewrite the global narrative in its favour.