Sir Keir Starmer’s China trip ‘failed’ – as Jimmy Lai remains in prison, says Kemi Badenoch

Monday 2 February 2026 | UK

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s recent visit to China, describing it as a “show of weakness, not strength,” and arguing that he failed to secure the release of jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms Badenoch said a stronger UK prime minister would have been able to negotiate Mr Lai’s freedom during the Beijing trip. She said the British citizen’s continued detention highlights what she views as the government’s soft approach to China.

“I would have liked to have seen the release of Jimmy Lai,” she said. “He should not have been imprisoned. He is suffering, his children fear he is dying, and this is something a strong prime minister would have been able to secure. He failed to do that.”

Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was arrested in August 2020 following the introduction of China’s national security law in Hong Kong. He has since been convicted on three national security charges and could face life imprisonment. His family has raised concerns about his health and access to medical care.

Sir Keir’s visit to China—the first by a UK prime minister since 2018—resulted in several diplomatic and economic developments, including China lifting sanctions on six British MPs, reducing tariffs on whisky imports from 10% to 5%, and granting UK citizens visa-free travel to China for up to 30 days.

Downing Street described the trip as a success that reopened high-level dialogue and created new business opportunities. The government has also criticised previous Conservative administrations for what it called an inconsistent China policy.

However, Ms Badenoch said she would not have made the trip herself and warned that the government is becoming overly dependent on China economically.

“His entire economic policy is dependent on China—wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicle batteries,” she said. “He doesn’t have a credible plan for economic growth that doesn’t involve kowtowing to China.”

She argued that growth should instead come from domestic reforms, including reducing taxes on businesses and controlling welfare spending.

Responding to the criticism, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the government hopes continued engagement with Beijing will help secure Mr Lai’s release.

“We all want to see Jimmy Lai freed,” he said. “The fact that there is now open dialogue, and that the prime minister raised this directly with President Xi, gives us a channel that we hope will lead to that outcome.”

Mr Lai’s case remains a major point of tension in UK-China relations, alongside concerns over human rights in Xinjiang and China’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine.