China has lifted sanctions on six current members of the UK Parliament following high level talks between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The move comes during Starmer’s three day visit to China, the first by a British prime minister since 2018.
Sir Keir confirmed that all travel bans and related restrictions placed on the MPs and peers no longer apply. He said the decision showed that direct engagement with Beijing can deliver results, even on sensitive issues.
Who Was Affected by the Sanctions
The sanctions were first imposed in 2021. They targeted several British lawmakers who openly criticised China’s human rights record. Those affected included Conservative MPs Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Nusrat Ghani, Tom Tugendhat, Neil O’Brien, and Tim Loughton, who has since left Parliament.
Labour peer Baroness Kennedy and crossbench peer Lord Alton were also sanctioned. All are members of the Inter Parliamentary Alliance on China. China banned them from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Authorities also froze any assets they held in China.
Mixed Reaction From Lawmakers
Despite the lifting of restrictions, the six current parliamentarians said they felt no relief. In a joint statement, they said China still sanctions other individuals, including lawyers and academics.
They criticised what they called selective treatment. They argued that Parliament exists to defend all citizens, not just serving MPs. They also raised concerns about Jimmy Lai, a British citizen who remains imprisoned in Hong Kong.
Starmer Defends Engagement With China
Sir Keir rejected claims that he acted weakly toward Beijing. He said refusing dialogue would harm UK interests. According to him, engagement allows the UK to raise difficult topics directly with Chinese leaders.
During the visit, the UK and China agreed to cut import taxes on British whisky by half. The change will take effect next week. Talks on visa free travel for British citizens continue, but no start date exists yet.
Political Criticism at Home
Opposition figures strongly criticised the visit. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the trip brought no real gains. She claimed the government depends too heavily on China for economic growth.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called on the prime minister to block trade deals until Jimmy Lai is released. He said the UK must defend its citizens before signing new agreements.
China Signals Warmer Relations
China’s foreign ministry welcomed the decision. Officials said both countries agreed to restore normal parliamentary exchanges. They invited British lawmakers to visit and see what they called the real China.
Sir Keir described UK China relations as stable and constructive after his meeting with Xi in Beijing. He said progress only happened because leaders spoke face to face.
