The British Foreign Office has issued a stark warning of a growing ‘axis of authoritarianism’ as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The summit, expected to take place in Pyongyang within days, comes at a time when working families in the UK are grappling with soaring food inflation and stagnant wages.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the meeting ‘represents a deepening of ties between two regimes that share a disdain for democratic values and human rights’. He added: ‘We must be clear-eyed about the threat this poses to global stability and to the rules-based order that protects British interests.’
But for many in the industrial towns of the North, the warning rings hollow. In Doncaster, where the closure of a railway carriage plant last month cost 300 jobs, the price of a loaf of bread has risen 12% in a year. ‘I’m more worried about feeding my kids than what Xi and Kim are doing,’ said Karen Mitchell, 44, a single mother of two. ‘The government talks about defending our values, but what about defending our pay packets?’
The summit, the first between the two leaders since 2019, is expected to focus on economic cooperation and North Korea’s nuclear programme. China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and sole major ally, providing an economic lifeline despite UN sanctions. A joint statement is anticipated on Monday, with possible announcements on infrastructure and energy deals.
However, the Foreign Office’s use of the term ‘axis of authoritarianism’ – a phrase coined by former Prime Minister Liz Truss – has drawn criticism from unions and left-wing think tanks. The Trades Union Congress said the government should focus on domestic issues first. ‘Workers in this country are seeing their living standards fall faster than at any time in modern history,’ said general secretary Paul Nowak. ‘While ministers worry about dictators, families are turning to food banks.’
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that real wages have fallen by 3% in the past two years, while the cost of essentials such as bread, milk, and fuel has risen sharply. In Bradford, a city heavily reliant on manufacturing, the unemployment rate has hit 7.2% – double the national average. ‘The axis of authoritarianism is not just in Pyongyang and Beijing,’ said local Labour MP Imran Hussain. ‘It’s the alliance of greed and power that keeps wages low while bosses and shareholders rake it in.’
As Xi and Kim prepare to shake hands, the contrast could not be starker. The two leaders preside over economies with low inflation and strong state control. Here, the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates again next week, making mortgages more expensive for millions. ‘The government needs to stop grandstanding abroad and start fixing things at home,’ said Sarah Jones, a union organiser in Sheffield. ‘Tell us how you’re going to bring down the cost of living, not just talk about dictators.’
The summit, which will be closely watched by Washington and Seoul, comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea has tested a record number of missiles this year, and analysts say Beijing’s support emboldens Kim. But for the people of Rotherham, where the last steel plant closed in 2020, those threats feel distant. ‘I used to have a good job, a pension, a future,’ said Tom Bradley, 58, a former steelworker now working as a delivery driver for minimum wage. ‘Now I’m one missed shift away from missing a rent payment. That’s the real axis of misery.’
The Foreign Office insists that standing up to authoritarian regimes is essential for Britain’s long-term security. ‘We cannot afford to be complacent,’ a spokesperson said. Yet as the sun sets over the Yorkshire hills, the question remains: which matters more to the people of this country – the price of bread or the colour of a flag in Pyongyang?
