Campaigners said the courts in China failed to commission an assessment of his medical condition in spite of his obvious mental illness, believed to be bipolar disorder.
Some 27 separate representations were made at ministerial level on Shaikh’s behalf to the Chinese authorities as intense efforts were made to spare his life.
Shaikh’s cousins, Soohail and Nasir Shaikh, travelled to China to visit their cousin in prison, but their last-minute plea for clemency also failed.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat spokesman Ed Davey also joined the criticism, with Mr Miliband accusing the Chinese courts of failing to provide adequate professional interpretation during the trial.
