“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.