It used to be said that parties were Eurosceptic in opposition but Europhile in government. The same might be true of China too. Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour initially adopted a Sinosceptic stance, calling out the Hong Kong crackdown and backing calls to formally recognise China’s treatment of the Uyghurs as genocide. Yet in office, they have abandoned such postures and instead sent various ministers out to East to tout for trade and promises of friendship. How’s that working out eh?

The latest to go cap in hand is Rachel Reeves, in her never-ending quest for growth. But at home, China hawks are not prepared to make life easy for her colleagues. For the House of Lords is currently debating Labour’s flagship bill on Great British Energy. The – rather slim – piece of legislation will shortly go ahead to Report Stage, with Sinosceptics keen to ensure that the UK does not become complicit in the Chinese Communist Party’s abuses in Xinjiang.

A quartet of well-respected peers – Lord Alton, Baroness Kennedy, Lord Blencathra and the Lord Bishop of St Albans – have tabled an amendment on ‘products in Products in Great British Energy supply chains manufactured in China.’ If passed, it would mean that the new state-run energy company would have to ‘ensure that any products in its supply chains which have been manufactured in China carry a warning that they have been made in a state accused of genocide and potentially culpable of using slave labour.’ One supporter told Mr S:

This amendment is a chance for ministers to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to slave-made solar. The UK’s modern slavery commitments will mean nothing if the rush to Net Zero is only achieved on the back of Uyghur forced labour.

Given the Lords’ record on human rights, the amendment stands a good chance of getting the peers backing. Might another Commons clash on a difficult amendment now be looming?