GB News’ Deputy Political Editor Tom Harwood was left visibly stunned after Labour put up its Housing Minister to receive a national security grilling in the Commons this afternoon.
Shadow National Security Minister Alicia Kearns brought an urgent question to Parliament, urging the Government to block China’s bid to build a “super-embassy” in the heart of London.
Concern over the long-standing project has been reignited after The Telegraph reported redacted plans for the Tower Hamlets developments.
Some 208 secret rooms – as well as a concealed chamber a mere metre from a fibre-optic cable carrying sensitive information in and out of London – were said to be included in the drawings.
In the Commons, Alicia Kearns unleashed a furious tirade against the plans, saying: “Labour promised a new relationship with China.
“Yet UK export goods are down 23 per cent.
“Surrendering all security for Chinese trade was always a bad policy. But surrendering all security while exports plummet is frankly insanity.”
But, instead of Dan Jarvis, who is the serving National Security Minister, responding to Ms Kearns’ query was Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook.
Tom was visibly baffled
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Mr Pennycook’s brief is substantially different, with his portfolio including the likes of housing and planning.
In response, Tom ripped into Labour, raising questions about their decision-making.
The GB News presenter said: “We were just hearing that urgent question in the House of Commons where Alicia Kearns, Shadow Security Minister, raised the question.
“I was rather expecting the Security Minister to answer the question. I was rather expecting someone from the Home Office, someone who deals with security matters.
Mr Pennycook responded, even though his portfolio focuses on housing and planning
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“Who did the Government put up there? They put up the Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook.
“Now personally, nice guy. He doesn’t have a brief involved in security, in defence, in home affairs. He’s the guy that deals with planning, policy, houses, that sort of thing.
“The question is on national security and the Government is trying to obfuscate, pretending it’s a technical planning matter.
“It’s not. It’s a national security matter. Interestingly enough, Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, pointed that out as well. He was expecting the same thing.
“Look, I am not sure whether the Labour Party have a handle on exactly what they’re doing or if they do. I’m very confused as to why they would enable this particular behaviour.
“I suspect they’ve obviously got their hands tied by China in some way, shape or form, because that’s the only way I can justify why you would allow somebody to build what is actually a super-embassy.”
In response to the claims of a secret chamber in the complex, a Government spokesman said: “National security is our first duty and Government security experts have been involved throughout the process so far.
“As the Home Office and Foreign Office have previously set out, all the security implications of the planning application have been identified and addressed.
“An independent planning decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government in due course.”