Just hours later the ex-politicians and pro-democracy activists were sentenced to four to 10 years in prison in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed the pro-democracy movement in the former British territory.

Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for meeting China’s president Xi Jinping just hours before 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were sentenced for attempting to field opposition candidates in an election.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday to establish "consistent, durable" relations between their two nations, pressing on with efforts to thaw ties between London and Beijing at a G20 summit.