Security minister Dan Jarvis has warned that China is attempting to interfere in UK democracy by targeting MPs and peers for sensitive information. Speaking after MI5 issued an espionage alert to parliamentarians, Jarvis said Chinese agents are posing as headhunters or using cover companies to contact those with access to parliamentary intelligence.
Jarvis described the activity as a "covert and calculated attempt by a foreign power to interfere in our sovereign affairs". He noted that this builds on previous incidents, including cyber-operations targeting parliamentary emails in 2021 and the Christine Lee foreign interference case in 2022. The government will take all necessary measures to protect national security, he added.
The MI5 alert warned that two individuals linked to Chinese intelligence are actively seeking to recruit MPs. Jarvis emphasised that there is a low threshold for the type of information sought, and that such efforts constitute an attempt to influence British politics. He stated: "We will always challenge any country, including China, that attempts to interfere, influence or undermine the integrity of our democratic institutions."
