Keir Starmer is under pressure to reject an application for a Chinese mega-embassy close to the Tower of London which critics say would pose a security threat to the UK
14:18, 13 Jan 2026Updated 14:19, 13 Jan 2026
Ministers faced fury over plans for a Chinese super-embassy with more than 200 basement rooms yards from crucial cables.
Cross-party MPs demanded the Government intervenes to stop the facility close to the Tower of London from being approved. Plans leaked earlier this week show there would be 208 rooms underneath the building, sparking fears of espionage amid heightened tensions.
Labour's Sarah Champion, who chairs the International Development Agency, told ministers: "Every security briefing I have identifies China as a hostile state to the UK. I am in no doubt that this mega embassy should not be allowed to go ahead."
She said that China is "terrorising" people - including MPs - overseas and in the UK, adding: "I want my government to stand up to bullies, not reward them. We need to be seeing rules, limits put in place around China to stop this behaviour, not rewarding them with the embassy that they so dearly want."
Nine Labour MPs have written to Communities Secretary Steve Reed arguing the embassy could be used to "step up intimidation" against dissidents. A decision on whether it will go ahead is expected by January 20, with reports suggesting Keir Starmer will announce it has finally been approved.
The Tories claimed the mega-embassy could be a launch pad for economic warfare. Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns told the Commons that a wall between the embassy and the cables - on which she said the economy depends.
Ms Kearns said: "Cables carrying millions of British people's emails and financial data, and access that would give the Chinese Communist Party a launch-pad for economic warfare against our nation.
"The Home Office and the Foreign Office say security concerns have been addressed." Drawings obtained by The Telegraph this week appear to show a single concealed chamber alongside the cables - which transmit financial data to the City of London.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook told the Commons it would be inappropriate to comment on a live case. He said: "We need a consistent position on China which cannot be boiled down to one word. We recognise that China poses a series of threats to UK national security and we challenge these robustly.
"China also presents opportunities to the UK as the world's second-largest economy and the UK's third-largest trading partner. We will therefore continue to develop a consistent and pragmatic approach to economic engagement without compromising our national security."
The Times has reported that the announcement to approve the embassy would be made ahead of a trip to China the Prime Minister is widely expected to make. It would be the first by a prime minister since Theresa May's visit in 2018.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have previously said their concerns about the application have been resolved. They said China has agreed to move all its accredited diplomats in London onto the site. At the moment they are spread across seven sites in London.
And No10 has previously said it would "clearly bring security advantages" to the UK.