Chinese spies are ramping up spying efforts in the UK (Image: Getty)
A Labour MP’s partner is among three men accused of spying for China.
Counter-terrorism police arrested three people on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
One is believed to be a Labour MP’s partner, while another is the spouse of a former Labour MP.
And Security Minister Dan Jarvis hinted Beijing has attempted to interfere with UK democracy, as he warned increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors.”
He added: “This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policy-making and interfere with our sovereign affairs.”
Mr Jarvis told MPs: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.
“The Government is taking robust action to ensure the UK’s democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity.
“The National Security Act provides our intelligence agencies and law enforcement with the modern legal tools they need to deter, detect and disrupt the full range of state threats.
“The action counter-terrorism police have been able to take this morning is an example that that legislation is working well.”
The Metropolitan Police said a 39-year-old man was arrested in London, a 68-year-old man in Powys, mid-Wales, and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, South Wales.
They were detained on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section three of the National Security Act, 2023.
Police have searched homes in London, East Kilbride, in South Lanarkshire, and Cardiff.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.
“Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.”
Leading China hawk Luke De Pulford told the Daily Express: “Another month, another China spying scandal. Yet ludicrously, our biggest security threat, China, still isn’t in the top tier of our foreign influence laws. We can’t continue to have our cake and eat it with Beijing. The longer we self censor for fear of upsetting Beijing, the more we imperil UK security interests.”
Reform’s Zia Yusuf added: “A Labour MP’s partner has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
“Why did Starmer grant approval for a Chinese super-embassy right on top of national critical comms infrastructure?
“Why did Mandelson’s lobbying firm win a lucrative contract with a firm connected with the Chinese military?
“Why did a Labour MP receive donations from a Chinese spy and employ that spy’s family in his office? Starmer needs to come clean.”
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: “Here we are again, another year, another Chinese spy scandal, and the backdrop to it is this Government’s failed policy of appeasement.
“The Government must now surely be coming to the realisation that unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain.”
Mr Burghart highlighted the bungled prosecution of two suspected spies and the recent approval of the Chinese mega-embassy in central London.
He added: “We in this House watched as these things happen, and the Chinese state watched too and saw that it could act with impunity. The minister says there is no trade-off between our democratic and national interests, and security interests, and our economic interests. But I’m afraid that is exactly what has happened.”
Mr Jarvis told MPs that it “continues to be in our long-term strategic interest to engage with China”.
He said: “We are engaging with China confidently and pragmatically on areas where engagement is in the UK’s national interest: climate, global health, trade, scientific research, but also on illegal migration and serious organised crime, just to name a few areas.
“But let me be crystal clear, this is not a question of balancing economic and security considerations.
“We don’t trade off security for economic access. Instead, by taking tough steps to keep us secure, we enable ourselves to co-operate in other areas, and we will always challenge any country, including China, that attempts to interfere with or undermine the integrity of our democratic institutions, and we will always prioritise UK national security.”
