Parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China says he is ‘completely innocent’

Published

2 years ago

September 11, 2023

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A parliamentary researcher who has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China has said he is “completely innocent”.

In a statement released by his lawyers, the man – who they did not name – said: “I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a ‘Chinese spy’. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place.

“However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party.

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“To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for.”

On Monday afternoon, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle reassured MPs that the House “follows the same vetting procedures as the government” and parliamentary security “is working closely and effectively with other relevant authorities” – and keeping security arrangements under review.

Sir Lindsay said a small number of people were briefed about the arrest “on a strictly confidential basis” – and warned members against prejudicing future prosecutions by discussing the matter in the House.

The researcher, who is in his 20s, is understood to have had links to security minister Tom Tugendhat, foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns and other senior Tory MPs.

Scotland Yard said he was arrested in Edinburgh on 13 March.

The Sunday Times revealed that another man, who is in his 30s, was also arrested in Oxfordshire on the same day.

Sir Lindsay said the pair were bailed until early in October.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating.

Both men were held on suspicion of offences under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be “prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state”.

They have been bailed until early October.

Their arrests led to Rishi Sunak confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday over “unacceptable” interference in democracy.

The incident has also thrown a spotlight on the government’s stance towards China and raised questions about whether it should adopt a tougher approach.

The prime minister has sought to adopt a more diplomatic stance towards Beijing than some of the more hawkish members of his cabinet and party, who want China to be officially classified as a threat.

This morning Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch echoed Mr Sunak’s approach, saying China should not be considered a “foe” but a “challenge”.

Ms Badenoch said the claims of spying were an “extremely serious concern” but we “shouldn’t be using language that makes people scared”.

Asked whether China should be described as a threat, Ms Badenoch told Sky News: “I would define it as a challenge.”

Pressed on whether China should be described as a “friend or a foe”, she replied: “We certainly should not be describing China as a foe – but we can describe it as a challenge.

“I don’t think we should be careless in terms of how we speak about other countries when these sorts of things happen.”

A denial from China is exactly what we have come to expect

China’s response to the news that two people in the UK have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing is straight out of its normal playbook: straight, hard denial, with a dose of accusation thrown in.

In the words of Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “the so-called espionage in the UK is non-existent” and all part of a campaign of “false information” and “malicious framing of China”.

This is exactly the sort of denials we have come to expect when China finds itself accused.

Remember, for instance, the spy balloon incident? Even when the Americans had collected the balloon debris and had in their hands pretty hard evidence it was fitted with surveillance equipment, China stuck to its denials.

Admitting otherwise would contradict its claims to be a responsible global player.

The bigger question is how this affects the UK-China relationship going forward.

China really does not like these sort of public accusations that cause it to “lose-face” – a hugely important cultural thing here.

If the UK dwells on this too much, makes too many loud protestations or upgrades China’s status to “threat” as some British MPs would like, it would be entirely feasible, even likely, for China to further cool an already pretty chilly relationship.

The UK government, already facing pressure on the consistency of its China policy, would have to think seriously about how it would handle this sort of situation given China’s power, wealth and influence.

But former Lord Chancellor and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told Sky News that in his view, the UK should approach China “with our eyes wide open”.

“It’s not a surprise to me this morning and I hope it’s not a surprise to many people that China is spying on us,” he said.

He said “many people” were spying on the UK and that the government needed to be “robust in our response”.

But he added: “That doesn’t mean we should cut trade and investment ties, that we should simply go into a defensive crouch.”

The Chinese embassy in London issued a statement yesterday in which it described the incident as “completely fabricated” and “nothing but a malicious slander”.

It also urged Britain’s lawmakers to “stop anti-China political manipulation”.

Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, claimed security services warned about the dangers of spying “some time ago”.

She pointed to the “damning” report from the security and intelligence committee in July which said the government had “no strategy” to deal with China.

“We think there has to be a comprehensive strategy towards the risks, the challenges, and the threats from other states to our national security,” she said.

Asked if she believed China was a friend or foe, she said: “Well, the relationship is clearly complex.

“There are serious issues around the human rights abuses in China. There are serious issues around their approach and their role across the world. And we also have this trading relationship, as we’ve seen the rise of China. We have to deal with that. But in particular, we have to make sure we protect our own national security. That has to come first.”

Politics

PM backs call for MP investigation into Prince Andrew’s housing arrangement

Published

2 hours ago

October 22, 2025

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PM backs call for MP investigation into Prince Andrew's housing arrangement

Sir Keir Starmer has backed a call for a Commons investigation into Prince Andrew’s housing arrangement.

The King’s brother is still living in the Royal Lodge, a 30-room Windsor mansion owned by the Crown Estate, despite relinquishing his Duke of York title last week.

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It has emerged he only pays a “peppercorn rent” on the property – a legal term used in leases to show that rent technically exists, so the lease is valid, but it’s nominal – often £1 a year or even nothing at all.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for a select committee inquiry into the Crown Estate, in which Prince Andrew would be called to give evidence.

Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Ed said: “Given the revelations about Royal Lodge, does the prime minister agree that this House needs to properly scrutinise the Crown Estate to ensure taxpayers’ interests are protected.

“The chancellor herself has said that the current arrangements are wrong.

“So will the prime minister support a select committee inquiry, so all those involved can be called for evidence, including the current occupant?”

Responding, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “It’s important in relation to all Crown properties that there is proper scrutiny, and I certainly support that.”

A document from the Crown Estate, which oversees the Royal Family’s land and property holdings, shows Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the Royal Lodge in 2003.

It reveals he paid £1m for the lease and that since then he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent “if demanded” per year.

Andrew was also required to pay a further £7.5m for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

The agreement also contains a clause that states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease.

The royal is under pressure to do just that amid continued scrutiny over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

There has also been fresh focus on his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre’s allegations, which Andrew denies, after the publication of her posthumous memoirs.

Senior Tory Robert Jenrick said it was “about time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private” as “the public are sick of him”.

Asked about his living arrangement on Tuesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC: “I do think people should pay their way and pay their fair share.”

Politics

‘Man deported under ‘one in, one out’ scheme returns to UK in small boat

Published

2 hours ago

October 22, 2025

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'Man deported under 'one in, one out' scheme returns to UK in small boat

A migrant who was deported back to France under the government’s flagship “one in, one out” scheme has returned to the UK on a small boat.

The Iranian national was initially detained when he entered the UK on a small boat on 6 August. He was removed under the government’s deal with France on 19 September, and he returned on 18 October.

He has been detained once again, and Sky News understands that the government is set to expedite his removal back to France.

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The news comes as Sky News learns that more migrants have crossed the Channel on a small boat in 2025 so far than the entirety of 2024.

The “one in, one out” treaty with France allows the UK to return anyone who arrives in the UK on a small boat back to France, in exchange for France sending to the UK the same number of people who have never previously tried to enter illegally.

The man told The Guardian newspaper that he had been a victim of modern slavery at the hands of people smugglers in northern France.

“If I had felt that France was safe for me I would never have returned to the UK,” he claimed.

“When we were returned to France we were taken to a shelter in Paris. I didn’t dare to go out because I was afraid for my life. The smugglers are very dangerous. They always carry weapons and knives. I fell into the trap of a human trafficking network in the forests of France before I crossed to the UK from France the first time.

“They took me like a worthless object, forced me to work, abused me, and threatened me with a gun and told me I would be killed if I made the slightest protest. Every day and every night, I was filled with terror and stress. Every day I live in fear and anxiety, every loud noise, every shadow, every strange face scares me.

“When I reached UK the first time and Home Office asked what had happened to me I was crying and couldn’t speak about this because of shame.”

The UK government’s position is that France is a safe country.

‘Rwanda is further than France’

The aim of the agreement with France is to create a disincentive for migrants to make the dangerous crossing across the Channel. But Downing Street repeatedly refused to describe the scheme as a “deterrent” this afternoon, insisting that the scheme is among a number of measures the government is taking to stop small boat crossings.

A Home Office spokesperson said in a statement: “We will not accept any abuse of our borders, and we will do everything in our power to remove those without the legal right to be here.

“Individuals who are returned under the pilot and subsequently attempt to re-enter the UK illegally will be removed.”

Former Tory home secretary James Cleverly quipped on social media that “Rwanda is a lot further away than France”, arguing that had their embattled scheme got off the ground, it would have been harder for migrants to make the return journey.

The prime minister is hosting Western Balkans leaders on Wednesday as the government tries to crack down on people smuggling and illegal migration.

But despite various government efforts, Sky News understands that more migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year than in the whole of 2024, Sky News understands

While the exact number of people who have made the crossing today is not set to be published until tomorrow, Home Office sources have confirmed that more than 36,816 people – the total for 2024 – have now crossed the Channel so far in 2025.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement: “The previous government left our borders in crisis, and we are still living with the consequences. These figures are shameful – the British people deserve better.

“This government is taking action. We have detained and removed more than 35,000 who were here illegally. Our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.

“But it is clear we must go further and faster – removing more of those here illegally, and stopping migrants from making small boat crossings in the first place.

“And I have been clear: I will do whatever it takes to restore order to our border.”