In a shocking development, two men have been apprehended under the Official Secrets Act amid allegations of espionage linked to a parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China. The startling revelation has sent ripples through the UK’s political landscape.
The parliamentary researcher in question had established connections with several senior Tory MPs, including security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns. The arrest of the two men took place on March 13, and they are now facing suspicion of spying for Beijing, as reported by the Sunday Times.
The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, responsible for overseeing espionage-related offences, is leading the investigation into this espionage case. One of the arrested men, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire, while the other, in his 20s, was apprehended in Edinburgh.
The allegations against them fall under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which addresses offenses that are deemed “prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state.” Searches were conducted at both their residential properties, along with a third address in east London, as confirmed by a statement from the police.
Following their arrests, both men were held at a south London police station and have since been released on bail until early October.
It’s worth noting that Tom Tugendhat reportedly had no contact with the researcher since his appointment as security minister in September of the previous year. Meanwhile, Alicia Kearns declined to comment on the matter, emphasising the importance of not jeopardising the work of the authorities.
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a pressure group, expressed deep concern over the infiltration of the UK Parliament by someone allegedly acting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China. They regarded these allegations, if proven true, as a serious escalation and a sign of China’s determination to undermine influential voices in the UK Parliament.
This incident comes shortly after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s visit to Beijing, which drew criticism from some senior Conservatives who are vocal critics of China. Cleverly had emphasized the UK’s intention to maintain a “pragmatic” relationship with China to address global issues like climate change.
Prominent China critic and former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith highlighted the gravity of the situation, characterising it as evidence of the deepening threat posed by China, especially under President Xi Jinping’s leadership.
The Intelligence and Security Committee, Parliament’s spy agency watchdog, previously warned in July that Beijing was targeting the UK “prolifically and aggressively.” Last year, MI5 issued a rare security alert regarding a suspected Chinese spy named Christine Lee, who had engaged in “political interference activities” on behalf of China’s communist regime.
As this espionage case continues to unfold, Downing Street and the House of Commons have refrained from commenting due to their security policies. Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, emphasised the need for a comprehensive response to national security threats and challenges posed by China and other countries in light of this immensely serious report.
