Brits fear influence of China, says poll

VOTERS are concerned about the growing influence of China, an exclusive poll for The Mail on Sunday shows. More than half of respondents – 55 per cent – said China was more of a threat than an ally, while 63 per cent said they were worried about the threat of Chinese spies operating in Britain. Neither Rishi Sunak nor Sir Keir Starmer were considered tough on China. Asked which would take a harder line on Beijing, the highest number of respondents picked ‘neither would be tough on China’. Nearly two-thirds were concerned about China’s growing global influence, while 57 per cent said it posed a significant risk to world peace and stability. But more respondents said China should be invited to the Government’s forthcoming AI summit at Bletchley Park than those who opposed the idea. Mr Sunak’s decision to step up engagement with China has faced criticism. Tory MP Bob Seely, who sits on the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: ‘People are right to be concerned. We can do more to block goods made with slave labour.’ The survey of 1,500 British voters was carried out on Wednesday and Thursday by Redfield & Wilton Strategies.