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Sanctions lifted on UK peers during Starmer's China trip
China has removed sanctions on seven British parliamentarians, including Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, during Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Beijing. The move comes after the group was penalised in 2021 for accusing China of human rights violations against the Uyghur minority.
Peer calls concessions a 'meagre return'
Baroness Kennedy described the lifting of sanctions as a minimal achievement, telling the BBC's World Tonight programme she would not "throw confetti" over the decision. She emphasised that securing the release of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai-a British citizen convicted under a controversial national security law-was a higher priority.
"I'm not going to have balloons on my door and throw confetti around to celebrate this-I think it's a meagre return, and I'd like to see Jimmy Lai being released."
Baroness Helena Kennedy KC
Kennedy, a former colleague of Starmer when he practised law, said she had not been briefed on discussions about Lai's case but expressed hope for progress.
Starmer raises human rights concerns with Xi
The prime minister confirmed he addressed Lai's imprisonment and the treatment of Uyghurs during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling it "expected" diplomatic protocol. However, critics argue the concessions fall short of meaningful action.
The original group of seven sanctioned lawmakers included crossbencher Lord Alton and four Conservative MPs: Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Nusrat Ghani, Tom Tugendhat, and Neil O'Brien. Former MP Tim Loughton, who left Parliament in 2024, was also among those targeted.
Critics slam deal as 'unbelievably bad'
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat, whose sanctions were lifted, condemned the agreement as damaging to Britain's global standing. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One, he criticised the government's approach, including the failure to demand Lai's release or challenge China's expanded embassy in London.
"This deal is frankly extraordinary and unbelievably bad, not just for this particular round of diplomatic activity but for Britain's standing in the world."
Tom Tugendhat, former UK security minister
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who was denied entry to Hong Kong in 2025 to visit her grandson, echoed concerns. She argued that ignoring "secret bans" on lawmakers undermines any diplomatic reset.
Trade deals announced amid criticism
Starmer's three-day visit-the first by a UK prime minister since 2018-also yielded an agreement to halve import tariffs on British whisky starting next week. However, a proposed visa-free travel deal for British citizens remains unresolved.
The UK government confirmed it has not lifted sanctions on any Chinese individuals, and it is unclear whether restrictions on others, such as Loughton, have been removed.
Additional sanctioned figures include Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, chair of the Uyghur Tribunal, and Newcastle University academic Jo Smith Finley, whose research focuses on Uyghur rights.
