Tonight’s BBC Question Time saw Labour and Conservative MPs in attendance clashing from early doors – with host Fiona Bruce forced to step in. Labour minister Douglas Alexander represented Sir Keir Starmer’s party at the weekly BBC show. While discussing the Government’s relationship with China, he clashed with Tory MP James Cartlidge.
The pair disagreed on the new Chinese “mega-embassy” that’s to be built near the Tower of London. Mr Cartlidge said: “Of course China’s going to have an embassy. We didn’t know they were going to have these so called dark rooms down in the basement.”
At which point Mr Alexander jumped in: “Okay, so let’s talk about the embassy. Let’s talk about the embassy.”
In an attempt to get things back on track, Mrs Bruce interjected: “Okay let’s talk briefly about the embassy and then let’s bring the audience in.”
Sir Keir Starmer faced calls from MPs to reject plans for the new embassy, though eventually approved them.
Government spokesperson said intelligence agencies were involved in the process and “an extensive range of measures have been developed to manage any risks”.
China also claimed that it “followed the customary diplomatic practices, as well as necessary protocol and procedures” and the new embassy is in the spirit of “promoting understanding and friendship”.
The “dark rooms” that Mr Cartlidge mentioned refers to a 208-room underground complex that was uncovered beneath the embassy by the Telegraph.
One runs directly alongside cables that send key financial data between Canary Wharf and the City of London. The complex also had hot air extraction systems that could allow equipment for espionage, such as computers, to be installed.
A Chinese Embassy spokesperson said claims that the new embassy poses a security risk are “completely groundless and malicious slander, and we firmly oppose it”.
They added: “Anti-China forces are using security risks as an excuse to interfere with the British government’s consideration over this planning application. This is a despicable move that is unpopular and will not succeed.”