If Keir Starmer made promises to China it could constitute ‘predetermination’, Lord Banner legal opinion concludes
Approving a Chinese super-embassy in east London could be unlawful if ministers gave Beijing assurances about the project in advance, one of the UK’s top planning lawyers has concluded.
If Keir Starmer or his team made promises to the Chinese government about the embassy, it could constitute “actual or apparent predetermination” of the planning application, according to the legal opinion by Lord Banner.
The opinion was commissioned by a group of residents opposed to the proposed Chinese embassy near Tower Bridge, which has attracted fierce opposition because of security, human rights and planning concerns.
Ministers are now under pressure to clarify whether they privately assured Chinese officials that they would progress the application after it had stalled under the Conservatives.
