Keir Starmer will leave China virtually empty- handed, despite his craven kowtowing, critics said last night.
The Prime Minister comes away with only warm words and marginal deals, having flown 5,000 miles with the promise of ‘history-making’ talks with president Xi Jinping.
Having hyped up the benefits the trip to Beijing would bring for Britain before he left, Sir Keir returns with only a halving of tariffs on whisky exports, plus the end of visas for tourists and businesses on short visits to China.
In spite of the friendly talk between the pair on the first prime ministerial visit for eight years, Sir Keir failed to secure a commitment for the release of Jimmy Lai, the British democracy activist jailed in Hong Kong; or the lifting of sanctions on MPs and peers who have spoken out against China’s human rights abuses.
The leaders also discussed Ukraine but there was no indication that Sir Keir persuaded president Xi to end his support for Russia.
Downing Street would not even say if Sir Keir – dubbed Kowtow Keir for allowing Beijing to build a mega-embassy in London – had raised the scandals of Chinese intelligence services trying to infiltrate Parliament or hacking the phones of aides to former Tory prime ministers.
And No 10 sparked fresh outrage last night by opening the door to president Xi – who last came to Britain a decade ago under David Cameron’s ‘golden era’ of close relations between the two countries – visiting the UK again.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ahead of a bilateral meeting in Beijing, China, January 29
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a ceremonial welcome ahead of his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday
Former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly said: ‘Is that it? Having contorted himself to please Beijing, Starmer’s ‘big win’ is getting the same visa deal that France and Germany already have. He sells himself, and the UK, so cheaply. It’s pathetic.’
Sir Keir arrived in Beijing on Wednesday with Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Treasury minister Lucy Rigby, along with a delegation of 54 business and cultural leaders.
Yesterday he was welcomed to the Great Hall of the People, near Tiananmen Square, for the centrepiece of his visit – talks with the president.
At the start of their meeting, in an apparent reference to how the Tories turned against Beijing as its threat grew in recent years, China’s leader told Sir Keir: ‘China-UK relations went through some twists and turns that did not serve the interests of our countries.’
But he singled out his fellow political Reds for praise, saying: ‘In the past, Labour governments made important contributions to the growth of China-UK relations.
‘China stands ready to develop with the UK a long-term and consistent strategic partnership. It will benefit our two peoples.’
Sir Keir told his host he wanted a ‘more sophisticated’ relationship with China, who he called a ‘vital player on the world stage’.
The two men spent almost three hours together, holding an 80-minute bilateral meeting followed by a private tete-a-tete joined only by Sir Keir’s influential national security adviser, Jonathan Powell.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese Premier Li Qiang shake hands after a signing ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Thursday, January 29
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks with Li Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China
Sir Keir was asked if he had raised the plight of Mr Lai and the treatment of the Uyghurs in China, and replied that the two men had held a ‘respectful’ discussion about it.
Sources said there had been ‘progress’ on the issue of British parliamentarians sanctioned by China, with the Chinese readout of the meeting referring to ‘stronger exchanges between the legislative bodies’, but no agreement was reached.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, whose party mocked up president Xi as towering over Sir Keir during their handshake, told the Daily Mail: ‘President Xi’s endorsement of Labour speaks volumes about Keir Starmer’s judgment, and his inability to act in our national interest.
‘The Prime Minister went to China desperate for its support because his entire economic policy is reliant on Chinese imports: Chinese wind turbines, Chinese solar panels and Chinese car batteries. It is Labour’s policy choice to be utterly dependent on China.
‘This endorsement also raises serious questions about what the Labour Government is willing to overlook and who it is prepared to appease.
‘It is no surprise given that Starmer approved a so-called super-embassy, despite warnings, including from the security services, that it could become a ‘spy hub’.’
She added: ‘Keir Starmer seems incapable of acting in Britain’s national interest.
‘We should not roll out the red carpet for a state that conducts daily espionage in our country, flouts international trading rules and aids Putin in his senseless war on Ukraine. We need a dialogue with China, we do not need to kowtow to them.’
Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, added: ‘It’s not that he didn’t get enough. He doesn’t appear to have got anything.’
Asked if Sir Keir wanted president Xi to visit Britain, his spokesman said: ‘I think the PM has been clear that a reset relationship with China, that it’s no longer in an Ice Age, is beneficial to British people and British business.’
Downing Street said agreement had been reached on China relaxing visa rules for British citizens, so that no one visiting for fewer than 30 days will have to go through the application process.
And tariffs on whisky exports will be cut from 10 per cent to 5 per cent – a move worth £250million over five years for mainly Scottish companies.
