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Claims of spy in British parliament trigger fresh bout of soul-searching over country’s approach to China
- The parliamentary researcher had access to sensitive materials because of his work with Conservative MPs on China policy
- The alleged spy has said he is ‘completely innocent’ while China’s foreign ministry described the allegations as a ‘malicious slander’
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A frenzied debate has kicked off in Britain’s parliament over news that an alleged Chinese spy was privy to sensitive materials relating to foreign policy.
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Hardliners say the news shows that the British government’s efforts to re-engage China are misplaced, and has put Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s attempts to steady the ship in China-UK relations at risk.
The man worked for the China Research Group, a think tank founded by now security minister Tom Tugendhat, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
He was also employed as a parliamentary researcher for Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the influential foreign affairs committee of MPs, the sources said.
The alleged spy was arrested on suspicion of violating Britain’s Official Secrets Act in Edinburgh in March and a second man was arrested in Oxfordshire at the same time, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Both men have been released on bail until a date in October and neither has been formally charged, according to police.
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