Brown will, instead, meet the Dalai Lama in Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, enabling the Prime Minister to claim to the Chinese that he is receiving the exiled leader in spiritual rather than political capacity, The Times daily of Britain said on Monday.

“As he said in Parliament, the Prime Minister intends to see the Dalai Lama. What is important is that they are meeting and will have a substantive conversation. It is also significant that the Chinese are engaging directly with representatives of the Dalai Lama,” a spokesman at 10 Downing Street was quoted as saying by the London daily.

Brown told Parliament in March that he would meet the exiled leader when he visits Britain, angering China.

With regard to the meeting in Lambeth Palace instead of at Downing Street, the spokesman said: “He is a spiritual representative and it makes sense for the prime minister to meet with him.” A number of other spiritual leaders are expected to be present at the meeting.

Brown’s decision has dismayed supporters of the Dalai Lama and has been criticised by British political leaders.

Sources close to British Opposition leader David Cameron said that the move was typical of Brown. “He seems completely incapable of making a decision and sticking to it,” a source was quoted as saying by The Times.

“There is no reason why he should not see the Dalai Lama at No 10, and the suspicion must be that he is responding to the Chinese Government,” said Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader.

Is China extending him an invite?

TAIPEI: A senior Chinese official has asked whether Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama would agree to attend the Beijing Olympics to ease recent tensions, a Tibet government-in-exile legislator said on Monday. The Dalai Lama would consider going, the law maker said. Khedroob Thondup, a Taipei-based member of Tibet’s parliament-in-exile, said a senior leader in Beijing had called him about two weeks ago to “sound out” the Olympic visit idea. He did not identify the leader.