Sir Keir Starmer defends China policy after spy scandal

Published

2 months ago

December 17, 2024

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Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “concerned” about the challenge China poses in his first comments on an alleged spy with links to Prince Andrew who has been barred from the UK.

Speaking during a news conference in Norway, the prime minister said he could not comment on whether the government has discussed the situation with Buckingham Palace.

He said there is “a long-standing convention” in the UK that talks between Downing Street and the Royal Family are “never spoken about”.

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However, he said that “of course we are concerned about the challenge China poses”, as he defended his push for a “pragmatic” relationship with Beijing.

Sir Keir said: “Our approach… is one of engagement, of co-operating where we need to co-operate on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should particularly on issues like human rights, and to compete when it comes to trade.”

The alleged spy, known only as H6, was described in court as having formed an “unusual degree of trust” with the Duke of York. Last week a judge upheld a ruling that he should be banned from the UK.

Sky News has seen photos of him with David Cameron and Theresa May when they were prime ministers, but a court order prevents him from being named.

Identifying the agent is a “matter for the courts”, government minster Jim McMahon said earlier on Monday, amid threats from Reform UK to name the man in the House of Commons using parliamentary privilege.

This allows members of parliament to speak freely during parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action.

Mr McMahon, a minister for local government, said that the mechanism should be exercised with caution, telling Sky News: “Whether people choose to use parliamentary privilege is a matter of individual reconciliation.

“In the end, they need to be able to justify why they’ve done that.”

He said that while he does not know the alleged agent’s identity, he assumes “that everybody within the cabinet, depending on their security clearance, will know the answer to that question”.

“In terms of the identity of the person…that is a matter for the courts. They will make a judgement on whether the identity should be released or not,” he said.

H6 ‘tip of the iceberg’

MPs want more information on the individual, with former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith seeking to ask an Urgent Question in parliament on Monday about the United Front Work Department – the group said to be associated with H6.

The earliest this could take place today, if granted by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, would be at 3.30pm.

Sir Iain has warned there are “many, many more” like H6 in the UK.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’re dealing with the tip of the iceberg.

“The reality is that there are many, many more involved in exactly this kind of espionage that’s taking place. The reality for us is very simple – China is a very clear threat.”

Tom Tugendhat, the former Conservative security minister, echoed those warnings, telling Sky News there has been “a pattern” of attempts to influence or change British policy, and also attempts to steal economic secrets and intellectual property.

He criticised Sir Keir for having a summit with China’s premier Xi Jinping, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves for planning meetings in China in the new year – saying closer ties are not appropriate.

Mr Tugendhat also called for Labour to continue with the foreign influence registration scheme, which was established under the Conservatives but is yet to be implemented.

The scheme would require those involved in promoting the interests of other countries to declare themselves.

Sir Keir told reporters in Norway he has been “working on it from day one in government” and “there will be an update coming shortly”.

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The alleged agent was first excluded from Britain by then home secretary Suella Braverman in 2023, when the Home Office said he was believed to have carried out “covert and deceptive activity” for the Chinese Communist Party.

Judges at a specialist tribunal in London on Thursday ruled Ms Braverman had been “entitled to conclude” that he “represented a risk to the national security” after he launched an appeal against the decision.

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H6 was invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party in 2020, and was told by royal aide Dominic Hampshire he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, a tribunal heard in July this year.

A judge ruled the Chinese businessman had an “unusual” degree of trust from the royal.

On Friday, the duke said he “ceased all contact” with the businessman after concerns were raised by the government.

The Chinese embassy in London has denied H6 is a spy and accused “some people” in the UK of being keen to “make up all kinds of ‘spy’ stories against China…to smear China and sabotage normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK”.

Politics

Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Published

2 hours ago

February 23, 2025

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Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

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Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

Politics

Starmer announces £200m for Grangemouth

Published

4 hours ago

February 23, 2025

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The prime minister has announced £200m for Grangemouth ahead of the closure of Scotland’s last oil refinery.

Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference on Sunday, said the cash would come from the National Wealth Fund for an “investment in Scotland’s industrial future”.

Grangemouth oil refinery, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, is set to cease operation this summer and transition into an import terminal, making 400 workers redundant.

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Sir Keir said: “We will grasp the opportunities at Grangemouth, work alongside partners to develop viable proposals, team up with business to get new industries off the ground and to attract private investors into the partnership we need.

“We will allocate £200m from the National Wealth Fund for investment in Grangemouth.”

The money comes on top of a £100m “growth plan” already in place for the area.

Scotland’s first minister, the SNP’s John Swinney, welcomed the announcement and said it is “important that the Scottish and UK governments work together on securing the future for the workforce”.

Sir Keir said the new investment will be a partnership with the private sector, and he is expecting three times the amount the government is putting in to come from private investors.

The prime minister said he believes the transition to clean energy is a “golden opportunity for Britain, especially for Scotland”, and is essential for national security as it “gets Putin’s boots off our throat”.

However, he said oil and gas are also “vital for our security” so will be “part of the future of Scotland for decades to come”.

As well as the investment in Grangemouth’s future, Sir Keir said every person made redundant will get 18 months full pay and a skills and training offer “backed up with up to £10m”.

Any business in Grangemouth that takes on those workers will get National Insurance relief, he also said.

Petroineos, which owns Grangemouth, announced last September it was to close Grangemouth by this summer because it was unable to compete with sites in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The refinery is understood to have been losing about £395,000 a day when it made the announcement and was on course to lose about £153m this year.

The company said the decision would “safeguard fuel supply for Scotland” by converting the site into a terminal able to import petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and kerosene into Scotland.

However, it said that would only need a workforce of fewer than 100 employees.

Petroineos announced its intention to close the plant in November 2023 but union leaders had hoped it could remain open for longer to provide time for a green alternative to be established there.