In a significant diplomatic development during Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s landmark visit to Beijing, China has removed sanctions against seven British parliamentarians previously blacklisted for their criticism of China’s human rights record. The move marks the first prime ministerial visit to China since 2018 and represents an attempt to reset strained UK-China relations.
Among those removed from the sanctions list is Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, a Labour peer who characterized the development as a “meagre return” on the diplomatic mission. While acknowledging the concession, Kennedy emphasized that securing the release of British citizen and media tycoon Jimmy Lai—currently imprisoned in Hong Kong under controversial national security laws—would have represented a more meaningful outcome.
The sanctioned parliamentarians, including four sitting Conservative MPs and crossbencher Lord Alton, were originally penalized in 2021 for their vocal criticism of China’s treatment of Uyghur minorities through their association with the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. The group has since criticized what they term the “selective lifting of sanctions,” maintaining that they will “take no comfort” in the decision while Lai remains imprisoned and Uyghur concerns persist.
Prime Minister Starmer confirmed to BBC that he raised both the Lai case and Uyghur treatment during discussions with President Xi Jinping “as you would expect.” The visit yielded additional agreements, including a commitment to halve import taxes on British whisky effective next week, though details on visa-free travel arrangements for British citizens visiting China remain unresolved.
The diplomatic reset has faced criticism from multiple quarters. Former security minister Tom Tugendhat, despite being among those removed from the sanctions list, characterized the deal as “frankly extraordinary and unbelievably bad” for Britain’s global standing. Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who was previously denied entry to Hong Kong under circumstances she believes were intended to silence criticism, questioned the authenticity of a reset that ignores “the existence of secret bans.”
The UK government confirmed it has not reciprocated by lifting sanctions on any Chinese individuals, maintaining its position on human rights concerns even as it seeks to rebuild diplomatic and trade relations with Beijing.