UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has publicly denounced the 20-year prison sentence given to Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, asserting that it is equivalent to a life sentence. The conviction, finalized in December 2025, was based on charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. Lai, a British citizen and media mogul, was arrested under a national security law imposed by China in response to widespread anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2020.

Cooper stated that the ruling reflects a politically motivated prosecution designed to silence dissent in Hong Kong and to undermine the rights of individuals to express their political views freely. In her condemnation, she reiterated Lai's claim of being a "political prisoner," indicating that his trial and sentencing are part of a broader strategy by Beijing to repress dissent and enforce strict control over the region's freedoms. This situation is indicative of escalating tensions between the UK and China regarding human rights issues.

The imprisonment of high-profile pro-democracy figures like Jimmy Lai has become a symbol of the struggle for political freedoms in Hong Kong amidst increasing authoritarian measures. The UK has consistently raised concerns over the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong since the implementation of the national security law. The international implications of Lai's sentencing could intensify calls for global action against such human rights violations, potentially affecting diplomatic relations between China and Western nations.