Keir Starmer’s highly anticipated and ‘historic’ trip to Beijing was overshadowed by controversy even before it concluded, most notably by the last-minute removal of Chancellor Rachel Reeves from the delegation.

Reeves, who had been central to advocating closer trade links with China and spent months preparing for the visit, was reportedly left feeling ‘sidelined’ after being replaced by her junior Treasury minister, Lucy Rigby.

Labour MPs voiced concern over the decision, with one noting that Ms Reeves was ‘upset’ given her extensive efforts to facilitate the trip.

Speculation at Westminster quickly arose about a potential rift between the Prime Minister and his Chancellor, especially following a series of government U-turns linked to Treasury decisions.

While Treasury sources insisted Ms Rigby’s inclusion reflected the delegation’s focus on financial services and her role as City minister, other Labour insiders suggested Ms Reeves remained in the UK to ‘steady the ship’ amidst domestic political turbulence, including Sir Keir’s controversial decision to block Andy Burnham’s return to parliament.

Reeves had previously visited China in January last year to explore deeper economic co-operation and had discussed the upcoming trip with her Chinese counterpart, He Lifeng, at the World Economic Forum.

Limited Achievements Despite ‘History-Making’ Visit

Despite Sir Keir’s claims that his visit was ‘history-making,’ the outcomes were met with widespread criticism.

He met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, with Xi noting that “China-UK relations went through some twists and turns that did not serve the interests of our countries,” while praising past Labour governments for their contributions to bilateral ties.

Starmer spoke of seeking a ‘more sophisticated’ relationship with China, acknowledging its global significance.

However, the tangible results were limited.

The main agreements included a halving of tariffs on whisky exports, from 10% to 5% (estimated to be worth £250 million over five years), and relaxed visa rules for British citizens on short visits to China (under 30 days).

Critics, including former Foreign Secretary Sir James Cleverly, described these concessions as ‘pathetic,’ noting that similar deals already exist for France and Germany.

Key issues remained unresolved. There were no commitments regarding the release of jailed British Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai, the lifting of sanctions on British MPs and peers who have criticized China’s human rights record, or China’s support for Russia in Ukraine.

Downing Street also declined to confirm whether Starmer raised concerns about alleged Chinese intelligence infiltration of Parliament or hacking of former Tory aides, prompting criticism and the emergence of the ‘Kowtow Keir’ label.

Political Fallout and Strained Labour Relations

The trip intensified scrutiny of Labour’s approach to China and highlighted tensions within the party leadership.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the visit, stating that Xi’s ‘endorsement of Labour speaks volumes about Keir Starmer’s judgment and his inability to act in the national interest.’

She warned against over-reliance on Chinese imports and cautioned against rolling out the red carpet for a state engaged in espionage, trade violations, and support for Russia.

Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China added bluntly, “He doesn’t appear to have got anything.”

Meanwhile, the limited achievements and ongoing political fallout have fueled speculation over Starmer’s relationship with Rachel Reeves, with some Labour MPs suggesting the Prime Minister might consider her removal if upcoming local elections go poorly.