What protests are taking place in London this weekend?
What protests are taking place in London this weekend?
Share:
Thousands of demonstrations are held each year across London, from pro-Palestine rallies to environmental protests to inheritance tax demonstrations. This weekend is going to be no exception, as more than 1,000 demonstrators are expected to gather to oppose China's proposed new "super-embassy" in London on Saturday. China wants to build the biggest embassy in Europe on 20,000 square metres (two hectares) of property at Royal Mint Court. The land was purchased by China in 2018, but Tower Hamlets council denied planning approval in 2022 due to a number of issues, including the effect of significant protests at the location. The Conservative government, who were in power then, declined to intervene.
The proposal was resubmitted by Beijing after Labour took office, and the Government called it in after Chinese president Xi Jinping brought it up with Sir Keir Starmer directly. A local inquiry hearing is scheduled to start next week, and cabinet members David Lammy and Yvette Cooper have indicated their support for the proposal. Here is everything you need to know about the planned demonstration for this weekend.
Locals, who are planning the demonstration on Saturday in conjunction with campaign organisations that represent Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kong residents, and Chinese dissidents, are adamantly opposed to the proposed embassy. The World Uyghur Congress, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, the Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities, and a number of Hong Kong advocacy groups are among those organising the demonstration.
More than 1,000 people are anticipated to attend the demonstration, according to the organisers, who told the Metropolitan police that coaches would be bringing protesters from Manchester, Liverpool, and Scotland. The Met initially objected to the project in November, stating that demonstrations on the location would affect neighbouring roadways and endanger public safety, and that there was not enough room in front of the proposed embassy to safely hold more than 100 demonstrators.
