When in China the PM is well placed to do something about the big increase in world CO 2 as a third of the CO 2 and much of the growth in CO 2 comes from China. He should ask to see one of the new coal power stations and ask when China is going to follow the UK example of closing all coal stations and blowing them up.
He should say the UK is not going to carry on importing manufactures from China that depend on coal power. It does not help world CO 2 for the UK to shut its car plants to import cars from China where more CO 2 is generated in their manufacture. He should remind the Chinese of the forthcoming carbon tariffs on China products the UK is bringing in.
He should ask to visit a big naval port to see the expansion of modern ships. He should ask why China needs such huge forces.
He should point out that China runs a huge trade surplus with the UK and ask what UK goods China would consider buying. Our exports to China are only 18% of our exports to the USA. Why?
He should worry about coming home empty handed.A 10% increase in our exports to China would only add 0.1% to GDP assuming no increase in imports to offset.Even that looks very unlikely.
There is no growth in UK GDP to be had in China. The UK needs to become a more demanding customer instead of a pathetic pushover.
January 28, 2026
China doesn’t owe us any favours , they don’t have to bend to past colonists. They”ll just nod their head and send us on our way.
January 28, 2026
Correct. China is probably laughing all the way to the bank flooding the world with solar panels
Here in the UK they have a capacity factor of about 12%. So when developers put planning in for say 50mw to power X number if himes the planners should be made aware that output on average is 5.5mw.
China is using coal for its industrial revolution just as we did 200 years ago. It’s cheap, abundant anti energy dense pretty much like the oil in the North Sea which we’re barred from using.
2TK will come back from China empty handed and proclaim victory. Just staying long enough to repack his suitcase for the next freebie.
January 28, 2026
Interesting today looking at our generation. At this point gas and nuclear are providing 71% of generation. The wind has dropped all over Europe just as Milibrain signs up to a 100gw Europe wind hub.
He still doesn’t understand that when the wind doesn’t blow the windmills don’t generate. I hear one of 2TK s giveaways in China is to allow a turbine manufacturing plant in Scotland and give the go ahead for s floating windfarm in the north sea to spy on our activities. Guaranteed price £248 per mwh. What a plank.
January 28, 2026
I did not realise that China had been a British Colony.
January 28, 2026
What ‘favours’ do we owe China?
January 28, 2026
And it’s high time we stopped having people run our affairs who believe we do owe favours and must pay penance for and to everyone else.
January 28, 2026
As a customer China is beholden to our continued support.
That is how markets work and why they can move mountains.
January 28, 2026
We should start naming the PM Kier
Whicker he spends most time abroad than in this country and the only thing he should be talking to the Chinese about is there fine bone china for drinking tea from anything else leave to the professionals
January 28, 2026
We used to make bone china in the Potteries, hand painted beautifully too.
So maybe he can ask China how much of our re-fired pottery products they can take pa.?
January 28, 2026
The Chinese will let him talk, and hide their contempt, disdain and amusement.
January 28, 2026
I would imagine he’s going to inspect the Chinese Surveillance State: to include a detailed briefing on their facial recognition infrastructure; communications monitoring of the entire population to identify and suppress dissenters and detailed operation of their Social Credit System.
And agreeing terms for the Chinese to install the infrastructure in the UK for him.
It’s getting harder to distinguish between Communist Xi and Socialist Two-Tier.
January 28, 2026
Donna,
Dark humour, but probably correct! One authoritarian to another…. Seems both don’t like their own military personnel too.
Just think, who’s in charge while 2TK is out of town— Oh good news, it’s Lammy!
January 28, 2026
I’m thinking along the same lines.
January 28, 2026
Donna +1
January 28, 2026
Donna :
You’re right.
January 28, 2026
Gold shattered records on Tuesday January 20th – and every day since then – surging past multiple milestones and extending a powerful rally that has gained momentum throughout January. Yesterday, gold futures crossed another threshold trading around $100 higher and touching prices above $5,180/oz.
This historic move represents more than just another bull market milestone – it reflects a fundamental shift in how the global financial system values the precious metal amid unprecedented uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariff war on the rest of the world, the accelerating trend of global de-dollarisation and overwhelmingly, Trump’s repeated threats to the independence of the Fed
I see no end to the gold’s rally. The most significant structural support comes from relentless central bank buying, particularly from emerging markets diversifying away from the $US. Global central banks are purchasing gold at near-record levels, averaging 60 tonnes monthly – more than triple the pre-2022 average of 17 tonnes.
The BoE and the UK investment management community continue to ignore the reality of this unprecedented transfer of liquidity to the safety of gold bullion. This will prove to be a serious strategic mistake.
Reply This site does not offer investment advice. Things do not usually go up without down days or periods of back tracking.
January 28, 2026
You must have surely written that article with your tongue firmly in your cheek.
I’m willing to bet Starmer doesn’t even realise China (and India) still runs on coal.
January 28, 2026
Yes and in other news the announcement of the death of Howard Flight. Put many of his colleagues in the shade and goodness could we do with his talent, views etc now. Supported you in the leadership so a good judge,
Sadly a classic example of the vicious nature of politics when he was sacked by Howard for the most minor of indiscretions and probably the truth,
A giant talent and exceptionally successful businessman defenestrated as a threat and replaced by a piece of ‘wet lettuce’
A story for the times explaining why the majority of our political class are so woeful and not fit to lick his boots.
January 28, 2026
Top bloke, I knew him in the 80s when he was an investment manager. He was part of a company in Doha QIDCO.
January 28, 2026
China is so embedded in the fabric of western society it is difficult to see what Starmer’s objective is prompting this visit.
As Ed Miliband doubles down on energy systems that make manufacturing untenable in the UK when comparing costs with China before we even start looking at the red tape and employment laws driving entrepreneurs out of business.
This looks like yet another Starmer foreign trip jolly, with zero benefit to the UK.
Does anyone ever bother adding up the actual cost of these foreign trips that Starmer likes so much?
January 28, 2026
As a career human rights lawyer who puts international law above all else he should raise that topic in the strongest terms. In fact if he doesn’t it would be grossly hypocritical of him. So he won’t.
January 28, 2026
I really do not hold out much hope of Starmer getting anything from China other than fake warm and courteous welcome.
Starmer has no clue about business or what they need, the only hope is those commercial people in the trade delegation will make something happen for themselves.
As for asking to visit a working coal power station, forget it, they will show him exactly what they want him to see.
He may of course find out that their coal fired power stations have modern filters in place that reduce emissions, unlikely I know, but that would be a smack in the face for blowing up our own. !
China does not need anything from the UK other than low tariffs, and to keep out of the way of Chinese expansion.
What would China want from Starmer, they have already hacked into No10 so already know what goes on here.