Partners of two Labour MPs amongst trio ‘arrested on suspicion of spying for China’
Three men aged 39, 43 and 68 were arrested by counter-terrorism officers in London and Wales on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services – one is reportedly the partner of a sitting MP
Police have arrested three men(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Three men have been detained on suspicion of espionage for China – with one reportedly the partner of a sitting Labour MP. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the suspects – aged 39, 43 and 68 – were apprehended by counter-terrorism officers in London and Wales following allegations of aiding a foreign intelligence service.
All three individuals remain in police custody whilst searches have been conducted at the properties where they were arrested, the force confirmed. Today, the Guardian reported that one of the men is believed to be the partner of a sitting Labour MP while another is said to be in a relationship with a former Labour MP.
Following the arrests, 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.”
In addition to the addresses where the suspects were arrested, the Met said three other properties in London, east Kilbride in Scotland, and Cardiff have also been searched.
The force said the 39-year-old suspect was arrested in London, the 43-year-old man was arrested in Pontyclun in south Wales, and the 68-year-old was arrested in the county of Powys in mid-Wales – with all three being detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
Ms Flanagan added: “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.”
Meanwhile, British officials have made formal representations to their Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing, Dan Jarvis has said.
The security minister told the Commons: “This Government stands resolute in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity targeting the UK from any state actor.
“The Government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom.
“We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.
“This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policymaking and interfere with our sovereign affairs.
“From the November MI5 espionage alert warning about Chinese intelligence officers targeting individuals with access to sensitive information on Parliament and Government, to the attempted interference activities of Christine Lee in 2022, this Government will not tolerate it.
“I can confirm to the House that British officials have formally demarched Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing about these allegations to raise our strong concerns.”
He 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.”
He added: “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.”
