Stanley Johnson calls for parliament ban on 'agreeable' Chinese ambassador to be lifted

Boris Johnson's father has called on the UK parliament to lift a ban on the Chinese ambassador ahead of his own visit to China to retrace the steps of Marco Polo. Stanley Johnson is planning a summer trip to Xinjiang province, home to the Uighur minority persecuted by Beijing, for a TV programme on the famous explorer. China's ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguan was banned from the parliamentary estate last year - a move which sparked retaliatory sanctions on nine Britons, including senior Conservative MPs. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Mr Johnson Snr described Mr Zheng as a "Very agreeable, capable and intelligent man" following talks with him about his travel plans for television. Mr Johnson's government has accused Beijing of "Egregious" abuses against the minority group, and slapped sanctions on Chinese officials deemed responsible for alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. No 10 would not comment on Mr Johnson Snr's trip to China or his call for the ambassador's ban to be lifted. Labour MP Catherine West, shadow minister for Asia, said Mr Johnson Snr's comments were "Particularly questionable when British MPs have been sanctioned by the Chinese government for speaking up for human rights". Announcing the ban on Mr Zheng last September, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it would not be "Appropriate" to let the Chinese envoy on to the estate while MPs were subject to sanctions.