Labour byelection victory ‘a clear message to Sunak’, says Starmer – UK politics live

Latest updates: byelection was first test at the ballot box since Rishi Sunak became prime minister

A Conservative MP leading a cross party delegation to Taiwan in the face of Chinese anger has said she and her colleagues are on the island to listen and learn" and called on China to withdraw sanctions directed against named British parliamentarians who have criticised Beijing.

China's embassy in London on Thursday denounced the delegation's trip as an interference in China's internal affairs. Britain, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with democratically governed Taiwan but has stepped up its support for the island in the face of a rising military threat from China, as have other Western nations.

We cannot cut off relations with China. We need to cooperate with China and to coordinate with them but we also have to challenge them and make sure that they know what our red lines are when it comes to protecting our people.