MI5 has alerted Members of Parliament about attempts made by Chinese spies to “recruit and cultivate” insiders within Westminster. Security Minister Dan Jarvis informed the House of Commons that Chinese intelligence agents are posing as companies or external recruiters to target MPs, Lords, and Parliamentary personnel. These spies are reportedly using LinkedIn profiles under the guise of two women to gather information.
Jarvis informed MPs that MI5 issued an espionage warning regarding the ongoing efforts by Chinese actors to target individuals with access to sensitive information related to the UK government and Parliament. He emphasized that China places a low threshold on the value of information and highlighted that various professionals beyond parliamentarians, such as staff, economists, think tank members, consultants, and government officials, have also been targeted for their connections and information access.
The Security Minister revealed that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has conveyed to her Chinese counterpart that such activities will not be tolerated. The government plans to address covert political funding to identify and eliminate potential spies. Additionally, efforts are underway to introduce new powers to counter foreign interference.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle notified parliamentarians about the Chinese Ministry of State Security’s attempts to establish connections within Westminster to gather information and establish long-term relationships. The alert specifically mentioned two headhunters, Amanda Qiu (BR-YR Executive Search) and Shirly Shen (Internship Union), who are reportedly using LinkedIn to reach out on behalf of China’s MSS.
In response to the espionage threats, Jarvis announced a £170 million fund to upgrade the secure technology used by officials and a £130 million investment to enhance the UK’s defenses against threats posed by countries like China.
