A Labour peer, recently relieved of sanctions by China during Sir Keir Starmer’s diplomatic visit to Beijing, describes the development as a "meager return" for the UK. Baroness Helena Kennedy KC was one of seven parliamentarians who faced sanctions from China in 2021 after they accused the nation of committing human rights violations against the Uyghur minority.
During discussions with President Xi Jinping, the Prime Minister announced the lifting of these sanctions. However, Baroness Kennedy emphasized that addressing the situation of Hong Kong pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai is far more crucial than merely removing the sanctions. Jimmy Lai, a media magnate holding British citizenship, was convicted under a contentious national security law for supposedly colluding with foreign entities.
In an interview on the BBC's World Tonight program, Baroness Kennedy expressed satisfaction that the Labour government achieved some concessions where previous Conservative leaders, like David Cameron and Boris Johnson, had failed. Nevertheless, she expressed a desire for more substantial outcomes. She stated, "At least they’ve gone in there and got something out of this," but quickly added, "I’m not going to have balloons on my door and throw confetti around to celebrate this -- I think it’s a meager return, and I’d like to see Jimmy Lai being released."
Baroness Kennedy admitted that she had not yet received updates on the discussions related to Lai's case but expressed hope for positive developments. The Prime Minister confirmed to the BBC that he indeed raised concerns about Lai and the treatment of Uyghurs during his meeting with President Xi, which is what many would expect in such diplomatic engagements.
The original group of seven parliamentarians subjected to sanctions were all vocal critics of China, forming part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, although former Conservative MP Tim Loughton has since stepped down.
Sanctioned alongside Baroness Kennedy were crossbench peer Lord Alton and four current Conservative MPs: Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Nusrat Ghani, Tom Tugendhat, and Neil O'Brien. Collectively, they have criticized the "selective lifting of sanctions," asserting that they find no solace in China's decision while Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned and Uyghurs continue to endure hardship.
Sir Keir Starmer's recent three-day trip to China marks the first visit by a British Prime Minister since 2018, aimed at improving strained relations. He has argued that the easing of certain sanctions "vindicated" his diplomatic approach. Additionally, he mentioned to the BBC that an agreement to halve import tariffs on British whisky would take effect the following Monday, although no start date has yet been set for a deal allowing visa-free travel for British citizens to China.
Interestingly, the UK has confirmed that it has not lifted sanctions against any Chinese individuals, leaving unclear whether restrictions have been removed from others sanctioned by China, including Loughton, who resigned in the 2024 general election. Notable figures like Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, who chairs the Uyghur Tribunal investigating atrocities against the Uyghurs, and Jo Smith Finley, an academic from Newcastle University focusing on Uyghur issues, were also among those sanctioned.
Former Security Minister Tugendhat has voiced strong criticism of the Prime Minister, suggesting that the outcomes of the negotiations were inadequate, despite his own sanctions being lifted. He characterized the deal with China as “frankly extraordinary and unbelievably bad,” not just for this round of diplomacy but for Britain’s global standing as well. He further condemned the approach taken before the visit, particularly for failing to demand the release of Jimmy Lai, who has now spent over 1,000 days in prison in Hong Kong for journalistic activities.
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse also criticized the agreement, sharing her personal experience of being denied entry to Hong Kong last year while trying to visit her newborn grandson. She contended that a diplomatic reset that overlooks "the existence of secret bans" is not a true reset at all.
Although Hobhouse has not officially been sanctioned, she was detained at the airport, interrogated, and ultimately sent back to the UK—a move she suspects was intended to silence her. She insisted on the need for assurances from the Prime Minister that all parliamentarians should be free to criticize the actions of the Chinese Communist Party without fearing repercussions.
