UK Labour Plans Cross-Ministry Push to Tackle Rise of China

  • Labour plans more government coordination on ‘hostile’ states
  • Home Affairs spokeswoman Yvette Cooper sets out party’s plans
Photographer: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
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The UK Labour Party wants groups of officials from different government departments to tackle the long-term threat posed by states such as China — which it views as hostile to British interests — if it comes to power at the next general election.

A new “joint cell” between the Home and Foreign offices would share intelligence and expertise, speed up decision-making and break down “traditional barriers and turf-wars between departments,” Labour’s home affairs spokeswoman, Yvette Cooper, said in a speech on Monday. Another joint Home Office and Treasury task-force would “respond to the short-term and long-term economic threats to the UK’s homeland security,” she added.