Security minister Dan Jarvis has warned that China is actively attempting to interfere in British democracy by targeting MPs and peers to obtain sensitive parliamentary information. In a statement to the House of Commons, Jarvis said Chinese agents are posing as headhunters or operating through front companies to gain access to parliamentarians and their staff.
MI5 earlier issued an espionage alert to MPs, peers, and parliamentary staff, highlighting that two individuals linked to Chinese intelligence are seeking to recruit politicians. Jarvis described the activity as a "covert and calculated" attempt by a foreign power to interfere in sovereign UK affairs, adding that the government would not tolerate such actions.
The minister noted that this behaviour builds on a pattern of Chinese interference, including cyber-operations targeting parliamentary emails in 2021 and the case of Christine Lee in 2022, who was convicted of foreign interference. He emphasised that the government will take all necessary measures to protect national security and democratic institutions.
Jarvis stated: "We will always challenge any country, including China, that attempts to interfere, influence or undermine the integrity of our democratic institutions." He reaffirmed the government's commitment to collaborating with allies to counter such threats.
