New guidelines issued on deaths of Britons abroad

New guidelines have been issued to British diplomats in the wake of the mysterious death of businessman Neil Heywood in China, Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday.

Mr Hague said the guidance should ensure that ministers are given early warning of potential problems relating to the death of British nationals abroad.

If they had been in place at the time of Mr Heywood’s death last November, ministers would not have had to wait until February to learn about it, he said.

The guidelines are designed to prevent a repeat of the embarrassment caused when Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne was photographed with Bo Xilai, who was later suspended from the Chinese politburo amid allegations that his wife was linked to Mr Heywood’s death.