The Dalai Lama arrived in London yesterday to begin a politically sensitive 11-day tour of Britain, delivering his first lecture a safe diplomatic distance from Downing Street.

Having been snubbed this week by all but one German minister, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet was received with more affection at his first engagement in the City of London. He arrived in a silver Mercedes to receive an honorary doctorate from London Metropolitan University.

During his visit he will meet the Prince of Wales, David Cameron, the Tory leader, Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. He will discuss China’s human rights record in Tibet in evidence to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committtee and will deliver talks in Nottingham and Oxford.

However, unlike on his previous trips, No 10 is absent from his itinerary. Instead, Gordon Brown will meet the Dalai Lama at Lambeth Palace on Friday, prompting accusations that the Prime Minister is kowtowing to China by underplaying the leader’s political role.

Yesterday, the Dalai Lama entertained the audience at the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Great Hall with tales of his early education, delivering a message that featured little direct criticism of the economic superpower.

Apologising for his “broken English”, the 72-year-old said: “In Tibet, although the Chinese Government is helping modern education, but then, as you know, the totalitarian system is very one-sided, and every field is much politicised.”

He reserved special praise for ten Tibetan students. “His Holiness means everything,” said Tseten Dor-jee, 23, who is studying law and international relations. He added that he was disappointed that Britain and Germany had ignored the political potential of the leader’s visit. “He is not boycotting the Olympics, he is not treating China as the enemy, so I’m sad that leaders are reluctant to meet him in that [political] capacity.”

John Scott, the university chaplain, said that it was impossible to meet the Dalai Lama without acknowledging his political significance: “You cannot separate the two [the political and the spiritual], but the grace and charity he demonstrates shows [that] you really have to roll with the punches.”

Itinerary in Britain

Today Meets all-party Commons group on Tibet.

Tomorrow Goes to the Foreign Affairs Committee; speaks at Royal Albert Hall; meets Prince of Wales.

Friday Meets Gordon Brown; then five days in Nottingham; public talk in Oxford

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