Pressure on Hague over China murder

Foreign Secretary William Hague came under pressure from MPs yesterday to explain why Britain did not intervene sooner over the murder of businessman Neil Heywood in China.

The foreign affairs select committee wrote to Mr Hague asking why ministers were not immediately informed about rumours that there were suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Heywood’s death.

The letter also raised speculation about Mr Heywood’s “profession”, and whether he had supplied information to the British embassy. Reports in China have suggested that investigations there indicate Mr Heywood, 41, was a victim of homicide.