Human rights: Who said Labour’s foreign policy was written by Russia and China?

Last Updated: October 18, 2015By

Somebody said recently – either on This Blog or in a Parliamentary debate – that Labour’s foreign policy is written by Russia and China. It seems China would argue that this is not true.

Against the wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Jeremy Corbyn has announced his intention to raise the issue of human rights in China during a state visit to the UK, which starts on Tuesday.

The Conservative leader, David Cameron, would never dream of doing anything of the sort, it seems. But then, his party is trying to forge business deals with China, and couldn’t care less about human rights – that’s why Cameron wants to scrap them in the UK.

So who’s really in China’s pocket?

China’s ambassador to the UK says his country does not “shy away” from discussing human rights – but doubts Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will raise the issue at next week’s state banquet.

Liu Xiaoming said President Xi Jinping’s state visit would focus on “partnership” and “co-operation” between the two countries.

The state visit, the first from China since 2005, begins on Tuesday.

Mr Corbyn’s spokesman has said he will use the visit to discuss human rights.

He is due to have a private meeting with the Chinese president, and has not ruled out using a state banquet at Buckingham Palace to make his case.

Source: China state visit: President ‘won’t shy’ from human rights record – BBC News

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6 Comments

  1. chriskitcher October 19, 2015 at 8:15 am - Reply

    Bucking Palace is just the place to open up this debate, two unelecetd heads of state one of which allows no human rights at all, whilst the other is doing its best to remove what meagre human rights exist in her queendom.

  2. John Gaines. October 19, 2015 at 9:37 am - Reply

    The issue is even more profound than that:

    People all around the world are becoming increasingly dependent on a small number of large multinational businesses. Monsanto controls 90% of the production of genetically modified seeds. Microsoft holds an 88.26% market share of the software industry, followed by Apple with Mac who hold 9.93%. Everyday, 150 million people through out the world, buy an Unilever product without even realizing it. McDonalds serves 58.1 million meals a day around the world. 51 of the worlds 100 biggest economies are businesses.
    The state loses power at the same rate as businesses gains it. Globalization has created a context which requires a redefinition of the rules for global 21st century society.
    We surely do.
    http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2015/10/19/34495053-very-disturbing-docu-about-multinationals-not-for-sale

  3. Ram K Padmanaban October 19, 2015 at 9:47 am - Reply

    you allowed such a stupid hyposthesis to be posted on here? I have also seen a post from someone who called for David cameron or some other tory to be killed.

    yet you conveniently ignore my comments about David Cameron, being a vile Human being or call upon his warrimes!

    was I too controversial? It is important people keep tagging on the serious matter of the war crimes as much as other matters of internal affairs of DWP, Housing etc. My claims are not in any way eccentric as you can see the leaked mails and phone conversations popping up here & there about Blair’s implications of a premeditation of Iraq invasion before even the UN inspection team for WMD went inside Iraq.

    • Ram K Padmanaban October 19, 2015 at 9:51 am - Reply

      It is important to discuss those matters to develop our political consensus. Maybe I am too critical, maybe I am wrong, but if you choose to self censure yourselves then it would never be discussed.

      George Orwell said “At any given moment there is an orthodoxy, a body of ideas which it is assumed that all right-thinking people will accept without question.”

      “A genuinely unfashionable opinion is almost never given a fair hearing, either in the popular press or in the highbrow periodicals.

    • Mike Sivier October 19, 2015 at 12:11 pm - Reply

      Perhaps I just haven’t got to your comment yet? I’ve been particularly busy over the past few days and have several hundred backed up.
      Never assume anything.

  4. Nick October 19, 2015 at 11:04 am - Reply

    our human rights mike are just as bad and am sure the Chinese president,is well aware of this fact

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