The Daily T Jimmy Lai’s son on PM failing to release his father: He’s serving a death sentence
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Feb 13, 2026 
Tom Tugendhat, Conservative MP and former Foreign Affairs committee chair, offers perspective on UK-China ties and sanctions. Sebastien Lai, son of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai, shares his father’s failing health, imprisonment under national security laws and the family’s fight for release. They discuss why Beijing targeted Apple Daily, criticism of UK leadership’s response, and hopes for international intervention.
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Apple Daily's Role And The 2020 Crackdown
- Jimmy Lai built Apple Daily to challenge the Chinese Communist Party and became a leading pro-democracy voice in Hong Kong.
- The 2020 national security law was used to shutter his paper, freeze assets and detain him under severe charges and conditions.
Trade Emphasised Over Human Rights
- Successive UK governments prioritised economic relations with China over robust defence of human rights.
- The Prime Minister's China visit emphasised trade wins like whisky tariffs and visa waivers more than urgent consular cases.
Democracies' Leverage Over Dictatorships
- The UK retains leverage because democracies tolerate leadership change while dictatorships fear it, making figures like Jimmy Lai a threat to the CCP.
- Sacrificing principles for short-term economic symbolism erodes credibility and encourages authoritarian testing.