Government warned of 'potentially catastrophic' legal challenge over Chinese embassy

The government has been warned it faces an "embarrassing and potentially catastrophic" legal challenge if it approves a controversial new Chinese "mega-embassy" in the UK.

An announcement is expected this week on proposals for the building at Royal Mint Court, a site near the Tower of London, and could be made as soon as today.

Campaigners have vowed to press forward with their fight against the plans if ministers give them the go-ahead, with local residents raising money to launch a judicial review.

And the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, told Sky News he wished America had been able to acquire the site, saying there was "symbolism" behind the fact China had been able to.

Regardless, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is widely expected to give the plans the green light this week.

Ahead of a possible announcement today, Luke de Pulford, head of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: "Years of campaigning about the obvious and manifold risks posed by this embassy development have not been enough to outweigh the UK government's desire for Beijing's money.

"The fight isn't over.

"The campaign now heads to the courts where the government is about to become embroiled in an embarrassing and potentially catastrophic judicial review."

How did we get here?

Last month, the final decision on whether to grant planning permission for the Chinese embassy was delayed until 20 January.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said "national security has been a priority through this process".

The plans include 208 secret rooms and a hidden chamber, according to a report from The Telegraph.

Ciaran Martin, former chief executive of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre, last week dismissed concerns over the proposed embassy's proximity to data cables that are considered important for financial sector communications between the City of London and Canary Wharf.

In an article for The Times, he said the plans would have been thoroughly checked over by the UK's security services, and that "no government would override their advice were they to say the risks were too great".

But MPs, including some from within the Labour Party, have warned the embassy could also be used to "step up intimidation" against dissidents and have called on Communities Secretary Steve Reed to block the application.

Security a 'core priority', says minister

The government has argued that it would narrow Chinese diplomatic presence from seven buildings to one, which could bring security benefits.

Addressing the Commons on the eve of the decision deadline, Foreign Office minister Seema Malhotra said: "We've been consistently clear that national security is the first duty of government, and it has been our core priority throughout the embassy process, with the close involvement of the security and intelligence agencies."

She said a "range of measures" had been brought in to protect national security, adding that she had "full confidence" in the security services to be able to manage potential risks from spies.

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It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is set to visit China at the end of the month as the UK seeks to strengthen economic ties, becoming the first prime minister to visit the country in eight years.

Ahead of Sir Keir's visit, Mr Johnson, of the Republican Party, who is set to address the UK parliament on Tuesday, suggested the embassy being in "a prominent place" sends a "certain message".

MHCLG has been contacted for comment.