The prime minister is also front and centre of the Telegraph, which features a photograph of Sir Keir attending a ceremonial welcome in the Chinese capital, paired with the caption “Starmer among friends”. The paper has also launched a “Campaign for democracy”, and leads with a “revolt” over cancelled local elections around the UK. Councillors in Norfolk and Welwyn Hatfield have stood down “in protest” of the “axed” votes, and the Telegraph says others are considering taking similar action.
“Capitulation in Beijing” declares the Mail, condemning what it says is a trip for the prime minister to “suck up to” China. Sir Keir “gave the go-ahead to China’s nest of spies embassy”, the paper says, and will leave China “virtually empty-handed”. Planning permission for China’s controversial new embassy in London was granted earlier this month, after repeated delays. The Chinese embassy previously said: “Anti-China forces are using security risks as an excuse to interfere with the British government’s consideration over this planning application. This is a despicable move that is unpopular and will not succeed.”
“Iranian guard corps to be treated as terrorists by UK” reads the Times, after the European Union added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations on Thursday. The group operates separately to Iran’s army, and has sworn loyalty to the Ayatollah. According to the paper, the Home Office has been drawing up legislation to enable the ban since last May, but sources have told the Times that is now likely to be brought forward.
