MP barred from Hong Kong says it was to 'shut me up'

Hobhouse said she had had a huge amount of solidarity from "very worried" MPs.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has promised to "urgently" raise the issue with authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing and "demand an explanation".

He added it would be "unacceptable for an MP to be denied entry for simply expressing their views as a parliamentarian".

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Lammy to summon the Chinese ambassador, adding the Chinese government cannot be allowed to "undermine our democracy by intimidating our parliamentarians."

"I want some answers," Hobhouse said, calling for Lammy to "reassure parliamentarians that this is not the way the Chinese communist party can treat [them]".

It comes a week after two Labour MPs were denied entry to Israel while on a trip to visit the occupied West Bank.

"It is very chilling that authoritarian countries can treat us in this way," said Hobhouse, adding the "diplomatic understanding" in which we allow politicians into each other's countries seemed to be "collapsing".

She has ruled out approaching the Chinese embassy for permission to enter Hong Kong, saying they will see their relatives elsewhere.

Asked about the timing of the incident in the week the UK government sought to take control of the Chinese-owned British Steel plant in Scunthorpe, Lincs, Hobhouse said she could only speculate.

She called for a "clear-eyed" approach to what China wants from Britain, saying "it's not just fluffy, friendly relationships".

"They want something from us. They use us and we must not be naïve about giving them access to too much, for example our critical national infrastructure."

The Chinese Embassy has been approached for comment.

Asked about the case during a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: "The Hong Kong SAR [special administrative region] government has stated its position on that.

"Let me stress that border entry is a matter within a country's sovereignty.

"The Hong Kong SAR government has the authority to handle individual cases of entry in accordance with relevant laws and policies."