A ban on controversial Confucius Institutes at British universities is being rapidly drawn up by officials to honour Rishi Sunak’s election campaign pledge, The Telegraph understands.
The Prime Minister announced during the summer leadership campaign that he would shut down the 30 Chinese culture institutes as he labelled China the “largest threat to Britain and the world’s security and prosperity this century.”
The institutes, which are based at universities across the UK, were set up to deliver culture and language classes to international students. However, they have been accused of being a front for the Chinese Communist Party to clamp down on critical views on China.
Liz Truss told MPs prior to her departure this month that she had ordered preparations to be made for a consultation on banning the institutes, The Telegraph has learnt.
Now, officials are understood to be continuing that work following Mr Sunak’s appointment as Prime Minister as he faces immediate pressure from Conservative China hawks.
