Chinese 'spy' at the heart of the Commons: Researcher arrested on suspicion of ‘espionage’ offences
A parliamentary researcher has been arrested for spying for China
REUTERS
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A British parliamentary researcher with links to high profile MPs has been arrested for ‘spying for China’.
The male suspect is thought to be linked to a number of MPs including security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairman Alicia Kearns, according to the Times.
The MPs are privy to highly sensitive information.
The researcher is believed to be British and worked with MPs on international policy for a number of years.
A Whitehall source claimed the breach was a “major escalation by China,” adding “we have never seen anything like this before.”
The suspect and another man in his thirties were arrested in relation to allegations around breaking the Official Secrets Act and other espionage related offences.
Scotland Yard said in a statement: “Officers from the Metropolitan Police arrested two men on March 13 on suspicion of offences under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
Section one refers to the passing of information which may be ‘prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state.’
Mr Tugendhat is said to have had limited contact with the researcher and severed contact when he ran for Conservative leader.
Earlier this year a Common intelligence committee published a report claiming China is targeting the UK ‘prolifically and aggressively.’
Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), told the Times: “It’s no surprise that he’d go after Tom. He’s been out front on China for years.
The news comes just days after suspected spy and terrorist for Iran, Daniel Khalife escaped HMP in Wandsworth.
A UK intelligence sources confirmed that Khalife was alleged to have been passing secrets to a hostile state and acting on the orders of an enemy to the UK.