Assembly opposes Chinese Embassy plans

On 4 March, counter terrorism police arrested three former parliamentary advisers on suspicion of spying for China, including the spouse of a sitting MP.

The London Assembly notes the significant opposition to plans for a new Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London. This planning application was opposed by Tower Hamlets Council, before being called in by the Secretary of State. 

Assembly Members have repeatedly raised concerns with the Mayor, who has thus far declined to intervene.

The Assembly has today called on the Mayor to write to the Secretary of State calling for the decision to grant planning permission to be reversed given these new developments. 

Lord Bailey AM, who proposed the motion, said:

"The revelations this week of individuals being arrested for alleged involvement in spying should be a cause for concern for us in London. 

“In the midst of heightened tensions, we must reexamine all decisions to ensure we are upholding national safety. I am pleased the Assembly has supported my motion to this end."

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes with extreme concern the arrest on 4 March by counter terrorism police of three former parliamentary advisers on suspicion of spying for China, including the spouse of a sitting MP.

This follows the collapse in October 2025 of a court case where two former MP staffers were accused of spying for China, after the charges were controversially dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Meanwhile, MI5 raised concerns in November 2025 about Chinese intelligence operatives allegedly attempting to contact UK parliamentarians and other influential figures on LinkedIn by posing as legitimate recruiters.

This Assembly further notes the significant opposition to plans for a new Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London. This planning application was opposed by Tower Hamlets Council, before being called in by the Secretary of State. Assembly Members have repeatedly raised concerns with the Mayor, who has thus far declined to intervene.

In particular, there are significant concerns about the embassy potentially being used for espionage of our critical infrastructure, especially given its proximity to the City of London. It has also been reported that MI5 believes it would have to move underground fibre optic cables in the vicinity, at a potential cost of hundreds of millions of pounds.

The increasing number of alleged Chinese espionage cases in the UK only serves to heighten these concerns.

This Assembly believes there is a clear and indisputable threat to the City of London and Britain’s security if the Chinese Embassy development is allowed to go ahead, and therefore believes it should be halted.

This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to write to the Secretary of State calling for the decision to grant planning permission to be reversed given these new developments. 

Should the Secretary of State decline to do so, this Assembly calls on the Mayor to urgently support a judicial review into this planning application, in defence of London’s security, economy and local resident concerns.

The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

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