China has been given permission to build a vast new embassy in the heart of London despite criticism from MPs and campaigners that it will be used as a base for spying and security crackdowns.Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has approved the plans for the building at Royal Mint Court, a site near the Tower of London.The decision removes a diplomatic hurdle in the relationship with Xi Jinping's government, clearing the way for Sir Keir Starmer to make a widely expected visit to China, possib

China has been given permission to build a vast new embassy in the heart of London despite criticism from MPs and campaigners that it will be used as a base for spying and security crackdowns.Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has approved the plans for the building at Royal Mint Court, a site near the Tower of London.The decision removes a diplomatic hurdle in the relationship with Xi Jinping's government, clearing the way for Sir Keir Starmer to make a widely expected visit to China, possibly within weeks.