Labour accused of 'playing fast and loose with national security' as warning issued over Chinese 'super-embassy'

Innovate UK, the Government's specialists on cyber-physical infrastructure, raised concerns about the embassy planned for the former Royal Mint site near the Tower of London.

The warnings were initially withheld by ministers - but were later published following heavy pressure from the Tories.

They suggest the embassy could compromise national security.

The Innovate UK emails reveal heightened concerns about the embassy's design, which includes "extensive subsurface facilities which border a secure BT telephone exchange."

Scores of fibreoptic cables, which serve the City of London's financial sector, run through this exchange.

Security experts worry that the underground rooms included in the embassy plans - commonly referred to as "spy dungeons" - could hand Chinese officials access to communication lines and enable "economic espionage" or "City wiretapping" in the financial centre of the capital.

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The Conservatives forced the emails into the public domain through Environmental Information Regulations after Labour ministers initially refused to reveal them.

After they came to light, Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: "The Labour Government are playing fast and loose with Britain's national security.

"In their desperate attempt to woo the Chinese government, they are opening up the City of London to Chinese hackers and spies."

He added that Labour had been "caught red-handed trying to cover up the alarm sounded by the Government's own cyber-experts".

Beijing's plans for the embassy have been in a planning battle for years, with the first application rejected by Tower Hamlets council.

A second set of plans, which the Tories say are nearly identical, has been "called in" by Angela Rayner for consideration.

The embassy concerns come as Sir Keir Starmer pursues a strategy of engagement with China, seeking closer economic ties than previous Conservative Governments.

The Prime Minister is expected to visit China following trips by several Cabinet ministers including Rachel Reeves, David Lammy and Ed Miliband.

The Chinese embassy has consistently dismissed security concerns about the development.

When questioned about the underground facilities, a spokesman for the embassy responded by claiming: "Anti-China elements are always keen on slandering and attacking China."

And following the Tory attacks, a Housing Ministry spokesman said: "Applications for a new Chinese embassy in Tower Hamlets have been called in for Ministers to decide.

"A final decision will be made in due course."