Senior Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat has issued a stark warning about Chinese state-linked harassment operating on British soil, demanding immediate government action to protect UK citizens from foreign intimidation tactics.
Parliamentary Outcry Over Foreign Interference
During a tense session in the House of Commons, the prominent backbencher revealed disturbing accounts of British citizens being targeted by individuals with clear connections to the Chinese state. Tugendhat emphasised that these intimidation campaigns extend beyond political targets to include ordinary citizens and even threaten family members living in China.
"This is not just about politicians," Tugendhat stated forcefully. "We're seeing British citizens being harassed in their own country by agents of a foreign power."
Government Response Under Scrutiny
The MP directly challenged ministers to explain what concrete measures are being taken to combat this emerging threat to national security. His intervention comes amid growing concern about foreign interference operations being conducted within UK borders.
Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee until September, highlighted the particular vulnerability of individuals with family connections to China, noting that relatives abroad face direct threats as part of coordinated pressure campaigns.
Call for Protective Measures
The Commons exchange revealed deepening parliamentary anxiety about the sophistication and boldness of foreign interference operations. Tugendhat's demands for action reflect broader security concerns about state-sponsored harassment becoming normalised on British streets.
"When British citizens cannot feel safe in their own country from the long arm of a foreign state, we have reached a dangerous moment," the MP warned, urging the government to treat the matter with utmost seriousness.
Security experts suggest this public parliamentary challenge indicates mounting evidence of coordinated harassment campaigns that current protective measures may be insufficient to address.
