Ex-media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court on national security charges. Just nine days after Keir Starmer flew his travelling circus and half the Lobby around China, only to return with… a whisky deal.
When asked about securing Lai’s freedom during that trip, Starmer insisted he would “raise the issues that need to be raised” with Xi, and that “part of the reason for engaging with China is so that issues where we disagree can be discussed”. Lai received the harshest sentence possible under Hong Kong (Beijing-imposed) law…
Yvette Cooper this morning vowed to “rapidly engage further” with China on Lai’s case:
“I again call on the Hong Kong authorities to end his appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family. We stand with the people of Hong Kong.”
Were all those air miles worth it?
Speaking about Morgan McSweeney’s resignation, skills minister Jacqui Smith told Times Radio:
“It’s clearly not ideal but I do understand why Morgan, as he explained, decided to resign at this point. But the important thing as you say is how we both tackle what this Epstein and Mandelson scandal has identified and also how we make sure, as the prime minister is absolutely determined to, that we continue the change that the country needs and that’s what I’m focusing on this morning.”