Labour has admitted to discussing British Steel directly with the Chinese Communist Party. The Sunday Times reported over the weekend:
“Jingye, the Chinese owners of British Steel, offered to waive the £1 billion compensation that they claim to be owed by the British government for the steelworks in Scunthorpe if the embassy is given the go-ahead.”
Co-conspirators know what the common name for that kind of transaction is. Now Business and Trade ministers admit in response to a pointed question from Andrew Griffith:
“In recent months, Ministers and officials have had short, factual discussions with the Government of the People’s Republic of China regarding British Steel Limited, most recently during the Business & Trade Secretary’s visit to China on 10-11 September. We continue to engage directly with British Steel’s owner to find the best solution for the Scunthorpe site.”
The mega-embassy decision is set to be delayed further. There is growing Cabinet dissent on Starmer and Powell’s obsequious China strategy. Another Labour civil war dividing line drawn…
