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Jimmy Lai: Prison Sentence
09 February 2026
Lead MP
Seema Malhotra
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
ImmigrationJustice & CourtsForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 26
At a Glance
Seema Malhotra raised concerns about jimmy lai: prison sentence in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Seema Malhotra thanked the right hon. Member for his question on Jimmy Lai's sentencing, condemning the prosecution of British national Jimmy Lai by Hong Kong authorities. She noted that a 20-year sentence is unacceptable for a 78-year-old man and called for his release on humanitarian grounds. The minister emphasised that the National Security Law imposed in Hong Kong was designed to silence critics of China, leading the Government to call for its repeal and an end to persecutions under it. She highlighted the Prime Minister's recent visit to Beijing, where he raised Jimmy Lai’s case directly with President Xi Jinping. Malhotra confirmed that the Home Secretary had expanded eligibility for the British National Overseas (BNO) visa route since 2021, welcoming around 200,000 Hongkongers and reaffirming their commitment to them. The minister concluded by reiterating her government’s call for Jimmy Lai's immediate release.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Asked Minister to clarify why Jimmy Lai is referred to as a British National instead of a citizen, questioned the lack of sanctions against Chinese officials violating Sino-British agreement and installing national security law. Also criticised granting planning permission for Chinese embassy in London without leverage on Mr Lai's release or justice.
Minister reply
Reiterated that Jimmy Lai is indeed a British Citizen and called for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds. Confirmed that Prime Minister raised the case with President Xi Jinping, and highlighted ongoing engagement with Jimmy Lai’s family and legal team. Stated national security as a priority and clarified planning permission was independent of diplomatic considerations.
Emily Thornberry
Lab
Islington South and Finsbury
Question
Expressed concern for Jimmy Lai's health condition, including rotting teeth, diabetes, heart issues, and recent weight loss. Urged Chinese authorities to end his ordeal by exercising clemency, allowing him to be reunited with family.
Minister reply
Agreed that concern for Jimmy Lai’s suffering extends beyond his family, touching the hearts of Members across the House and the country. Reaffirmed Government's priority to have Jimmy Lai released on humanitarian grounds.
Priti Patel
Con
Witham
Question
Compliments her right hon. Friend for securing an urgent question on Jimmy Lai's sentencing and demands transparency from the government regarding discussions between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Xi Jinping about Jimmy Lai’s release. Criticises the government for failing to secure Jimmy Lai’s release despite giving China permission for a super-embassy spy hub in London.
Minister reply
Acknowledges that this situation has been ongoing since before they were in government and continues to seek Jimmy Lai's immediate release. States that they assess his prosecution as politically motivated but need to have a conversation with the Chinese Government. Confirms that the British Consul General attended the sentencing and maintains regular contact with Jimmy Lai’s family.
Rachel Blake
Lab Co-op
Cities of London and Westminster
Question
Asks how the government will build an international coalition to put pressure on China for Jimmy Lai's release.
Minister reply
Confirms that they are in discussions with allies, including the US, Australia, Canada, and the EU, about advocating for and securing Jimmy Lai’s immediate release.
Lisa Smart
Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
Question
Questions if the government has summoned the Chinese ambassador to condemn the sentencing and asks for guarantees to protect Hong Kong activists in the UK from further persecution.
Minister reply
Confirms that senior officials have previously condemned Jimmy Lai’s verdict in strong terms. States that any intimidation or harassment of individuals in the UK will not be tolerated, and action has been taken to support law enforcement.
Joe Powell
Lab
Kensington and Bayswater
Question
Asks if there are now no more procedural reasons for working with international allies to negotiate Jimmy Lai’s release.
Minister reply
Confirms that they see the prosecution as politically motivated and continue to work directly with China, raising concerns publicly and privately. Acknowledges discussions with US officials on this matter.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge
Question
Asks if there are any other items the Prime Minister could negotiate for Jimmy Lai's release.
Minister reply
Responds seriously, noting progress made in lifting bans on parliamentarians traveling to China but emphasises more work is needed.
David Smith
Lab
North Northumberland
Question
Asks the Minister to keep Jimmy Lai's freedom of religion or belief in mind as they work for his release.
Minister reply
Confirms that they continue to advocate for Jimmy Lai’s right to religious freedom.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Question
Advocates focusing entirely on securing clemency for Jimmy Lai.
Minister reply
Agrees and wants an immediate release on humanitarian grounds to allow him to be reunited with his family and receive medical treatment.
Jas Athwal
Lab
Ilford South
Question
Asks about representations being made to Chinese counterparts for the release of Jimmy Lai, referencing a UN working group opinion.
Minister reply
Acknowledges taking the UN working group's opinion seriously and continues to call for immediate release. Also mentions ongoing work regarding Jagtar Singh Johal.
Maldon
Question
In December, I asked the Prime Minister to make it clear that his visit to Beijing could go ahead only if Jimmy Lai was released. He responded: 'It is important that we continue to engage, so that we can raise this issue'. That clearly achieved nothing. Will the Minister also bear in mind the fact that alongside Jimmy Lai, six other senior members of Apple Daily received lengthy prison sentences in what Reporters Sans Frontières has described as 'the complete collapse of press freedom in Hong Kong'? What action will the Government take during the two-week period in which an appeal has to be lodged to ensure the release of not just Jimmy Lai but all of them?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman will know that the appeal is a matter for Jimmy Lai, his family and his legal team, but he is right that it is important that we continue to call for an end to the national security law, and for the release of all those being held or prosecuted under it.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
Question
As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Hong Kong, I want to say on my behalf and that of many of its members how we horrified we are. This case exemplifies the systematic dismantling of Hong Kong’s judicial independence. The proceedings under the national security law do not operate within the independent or impartial judicial framework, and judges are designated by the Executive of the Hong Kong special administrative region. Trials are conducted without juries, evidential thresholds are lowered and the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence is gone. How will the Government ensure that, on behalf of not just Jimmy Lai but all Hongkongers who live in the UK, we protect them from nefarious activity and this illegal law?
Minister reply
We absolutely continue to be concerned about the erosion of freedoms, and my hon. Friend will have seen that expressed in the six-monthly reports published by the Foreign Office. We continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong.
Clive Jones
Lib Dem
Wokingham
Question
As my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove said, Jimmy Lai’s conviction is a massive failure for the Prime Minister, who said that he could change outcomes. This sends a worrying signal to Hongkongers living in Wokingham and across the UK, many of whom face intimidation from China when they are simply standing up for their civil liberties. What steps are the Government taking to protect pro-democracy Hongkongers in Wokingham and across the UK, who feel themselves to be under threat from Chinese authorities in our country? These residents are very concerned, and many of them fear for their lives.
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for his important question. It is essential that any attempt by a foreign state to harass, intimidate or harm individuals in the UK must not be tolerated.
Gareth Snell
Lab Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Question
I thank the Minister for her answers, but I think it is fair to say that when the sentence was handed down, the CCP baked in that our reaction would be to reiterate calls for Jimmy Lai’s release and put out warm words and demands regarding his wellbeing. Of course, there are now concerns that he may be transferred to a prison inside China, where access to legal representation will be even more difficult. What practical and tangible changes will be made today as a result of this shift in the relationship with China, now that it has sentenced a British citizen to 20 years, and is the Minister able to say a bit about what actions her Department is going to take in the weeks ahead to give practical support to Jimmy Lai, so that we do not have another statement or question in a few weeks’ time lamenting an appeal that was unsuccessful?
Minister reply
I reiterate that we continue to work with our allies and to speak directly with China, both publicly and privately, as part of the work we continue to do to secure Jimmy Lai’s release.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
I say to the hon. Member for North Northumberland and to the Minister that this is not party political—the last Government were as bad, if not worse. The Minister spoke about condemnation in the strongest terms. That is a complete waste of breath; the Chinese Government understand one thing, which is that there has to be a cost. Will the Minister sanction those responsible?
Minister reply
The right hon. Member will perhaps disagree, but the key point is that we cannot move forward unless we are in dialogue.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Question
The Government have been pretty generous to the Chinese Government—first the embassy, then the Prime Minister’s visit to China and trade concessions. In return, the Chinese Government have conferred a death sentence on Jimmy Lai. Will those in Hong Kong’s Administration and judiciary who undertook this politically motivated sham trial be welcome in the United Kingdom, or will they be sanctioned?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend will know how important it is that the Sino-British declaration is upheld.
Stephen Gethins
SNP
Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Question
As the Minister is aware, there is cross-party consensus that we are horrified by the jailing of Jimmy Lai. She will also be aware that there are consequences when a UK Government are perceived as being weak, including for British citizens. The Minister said that the Prime Minister spoke softly; he also spoke ineffectively, so will she tell us what is next?
Minister reply
Perhaps I will just say again what I have shared with the House today.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Question
Parallel to the terrible injustice inflicted on Jimmy Lai, my constituent Chloe Cheung still has to live with a £100,000 bounty on her head. I spoke with her this weekend, and her resolve has never been stronger, despite knowing that anyone in the UK can claim that bounty. In the spirit of keeping the conversation going, can I ask the Minister to use everything in her power to convince the CCP to lift that bounty from Chloe and, indeed, all the other UK residents who have bounties placed on them under Hong Kong’s national security law? The only crime these people have committed is telling the truth about the repressive regime in Hong Kong.
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
I am sorry, but this is really hopeless. I mean no disrespect to this particular Minister, but I am sure that you, Mr Speaker, have noticed, as I have, that whenever something indefensible comes up, the Government always put middle-ranking or junior Ministers on the frontline. Perhaps the Foreign Secretary is abroad or perhaps she is in her sick bed, but otherwise, why is she not voluntarily making a statement, rather than sending someone else to take the flak? This is really not fitting for the outrage that hon. Members—there are hon. Members on both sides of the House—feel about the fate of Jimmy Lai.
Minister reply
I am not sure whether to take not being directly targeted by the right hon. Gentleman as a compliment, but as the Minister for the Indo-Pacific, I take great interest in this case.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
I do not know whether the Minister has read Confucius, the Chinese philosopher of 2,500 years ago, and his “Silver Rule”, which talks about mercy and compassion. While all of us in this House will continue to campaign for Jimmy Lai’s release, can the Minister at least confirm whether there is consular access to Jimmy Lai, and not just consular communication? Will she call upon President Xi, who no doubt has studied Confucius, to revisit compassion and mercy and at least allow Jimmy Lai medical treatment, the correct diet and to be released from solitary confinement?
Minister reply
The right hon. Member may already be aware that we continue to seek consular access.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
The Trump Administration are not known for their record on human rights, yet the United States has been perfectly prepared to sanction Chinese Communist party officials who have been abusive, whereas the United Kingdom has sanctioned no one. Why is that, and when will the judges and prosecutors involved in Jimmy Lai’s sham trial be sanctioned by this Government?
Minister reply
What I will say, in relation to what we expect to see in Hong Kong, is that it is unacceptable that we have not seen the upholding of the historic commitments made at the time of the Sino-British joint declaration. It remains a matter of concern that the national security law was brought in at all, and it remains a matter of concern that people are being prosecuted under it. We seek an end to the national security law, and we seek the immediate release of Jimmy Lai.
Jim Allister
TUV
North Antrim
Question
Strong words of condemnation are appropriate and necessary, but when will the Government’s actions match those words of condemnation?
Minister reply
The hon. and learned Member will know that this case is a priority for the Government and is raised at every opportunity and at every level of government, and that we continue to work on it publicly and privately. I know that it is a matter of great concern to the House and to the country. People want to see all of us working as much as we can and wherever we can to bring about the release of Jimmy Lai, and that is our priority.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Question
The Prime Minister was happy to trot back from China heralding the successes of the visit without having secured the release of Jimmy Lai, and now we see Jimmy facing a 20-year prison sentence—in effect, a life sentence. Does the Minister think that was a price worth paying?
Minister reply
I reiterate that the most important thing is that we focus on doing everything we can to secure the release of Jimmy Lai. That is our priority. We will continue to raise this matter, publicly and privately, and we will remain in close contact with the family on the steps that we are taking.
Ben Obese-Jecty
Con
Huntingdon
Question
The Minister appears to have come to the Chamber today with absolutely nothing to say. The recent visit to China was an absolute disaster, with people taking burner phones and a burner plane—we even appear to have taken a burner Prime Minister. The Minister referred earlier to progress being made in these discussions, so can she outline exactly what progress has been made, and what was the response from the Chinese Government when the Prime Minister raised the case of Jimmy Lai with them directly?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister’s recent visit allowed us to open up discussion and dialogue directly with the Chinese Government at the highest level. The Conservatives seem to have forgotten that it is actually quite important to engage in such discussions and dialogue with other Governments, including on incredibly difficult issues. There is absolutely no point in trying to call for something when you are shouting into a void, and the Conservatives should know better. It is much better to have a relationship that allows us to make our case directly to the Chinese President, rather than talking to ourselves.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
The Minister will have heard me ask numerous times over a number of years for interventions on behalf of Jimmy Lai, who is a British citizen, as other Members of this House have done—indeed, we have been very strong collectively. His sham trial has now ended and, unsurprisingly, Jimmy will be held in unknown conditions for 20 years until he is 98, if he lives that long. He will be denied his religious beliefs, with no mass, and will be unable to worship his God, as he so wishes to do. This surely cannot be acceptable to this Government, whose Prime Minister and Attorney General have been at the forefront of using human rights as a panacea for every decision. Are we in this House truly to believe that Government abandonment of Hong Kong has meant that there are no options for those who are British in Hong Kong and whose only crime is not agreeing with Beijing?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman will appreciate the importance of seeing progress in this case. He is right to say that the sentence of 20 years—tantamount to a life sentence or, as has been said in this House, a death sentence—is unacceptable. That is why we continue to call for the release of Jimmy Lai, and it is important that we see that release on humanitarian grounds.
Shadow Comment
Iain Duncan Smith
Shadow Comment
Iain Duncan Smith criticised the UK Government's response, describing the 20-year sentence as a death sentence due to Jimmy Lai's poor health. He questioned why the government refers to Jimmy Lai as a British National rather than a citizen and demanded clarification on this. Duncan Smith also criticised the lack of sanctions against Chinese officials for violating the Sino-British agreement and installing the national security law, and asked why planning permission was granted for the Chinese embassy in London without any leverage for Mr Lai's release or justice.
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