A UK Parliament researcher has been arrested under the Official Secrets Act, with allegations of espionage on behalf of China. In March, the police apprehended two individuals, one in their 20s and another in their 30s, under this act. It has come to light that one of the arrested individuals was a parliamentary researcher specializing in international affairs.
As initially reported by the Sunday Times, this researcher had connections with several Conservative Members of Parliament. The Prime Minister’s office has also indicated that Rishi Sunak had expressed concerns about Chinese interference to a senior Chinese official during the G20 summit in India.
The arrested researcher reportedly had links with figures such as security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns. Several government sources have declined to comment on security matters.
Both individuals arrested were later released on police bail until early October after searches were conducted at their residences and another address in east London. The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, responsible for espionage-related offenses, is handling the investigation.
The researcher’s access to Tom Tugendhat was noted, although limited, before Tugendhat assumed his role as security minister in September the previous year. The man remains unnamed, but it is known that he lived in China for a period.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns acknowledged the report but refrained from commenting further, emphasizing the importance of not jeopardizing the authorities’ work.
The arrests reignite concerns about London’s relationship with Beijing, particularly regarding Chinese espionage and interference in Parliament. Similar concerns have been raised in Australia and Canada, with the Chinese government consistently denying any involvement in such activities.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Beijing recently, affirming the importance of continued engagement with China. However, some MPs, including Iain Duncan Smith and Tim Loughton, expressed skepticism about the UK’s approach to China, highlighting the perceived threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.
The Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee released a report in July, underscoring the need for the UK to recognize the security risks associated with China’s intent to interfere in UK governance and decision-making. It also emphasized the challenges of prosecuting espionage cases under existing legislation.
