Home Secretary Yvette Cooper makes feelings clear on Prince Andrew 'Chinese spy' connection: 'We won't hesitate to take action'

In a statement, Andrew's representatives said: "The Duke of York followed advice from HMG and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.

"The duke met the individual through official channels, with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security."

Discussing potential security threats to the UK, Cooper emphasised that intelligence agencies maintain constant vigilance against foreign influence and espionage.

"Our security and intelligence agencies are continually vigilant for any threat to UK national security, whether that be around foreign influence, whether it be around espionage, whether it be around any security threat," Cooper said.

The Home Secretary added: "We won't hesitate to take action in individual cases or more widely, wherever any challenge arises."

Cooper maintained a careful stance when addressing specific allegations, stating: "We don't comment on individual cases, and we're also clear that wherever our intelligence and security agencies identify challenges or threats in individual cases, we will always be ready to take action."

The Home Secretary reiterated the Government's respect for legal proceedings, noting: "We always respect the decisions of the courts and also don't comment on individual cases."

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The Home Secretary's statement reflected the Government's intended approach to handling sensitive intelligence matters.

Cooper concluded her remarks by emphasising the broad scope of Labour's security monitoring, stating: "What can be clear, though, is that wherever our intelligence and security agencies find cases which pose any kind of challenge or threat to UK national security, be that around foreign influence, be that around espionage, be that around any other kind of security threat, we will always stand ready to take action."

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has led calls from the Tory camp for the name of H6, the alleged Chinese spy, to be revealed.

Braverman argued that there is a "strong public interest and national security interest" in removing the alleged spy’s anonymity.

She said: "We are under constant and almost incessant attack and threat from hostile states such as China."

"We know that China is using all means necessary, particularly espionage and exploiting vulnerabilities in the UK, to get access to state secrets and other sensitive information that can harm our national security."

She added: "So disclosing the identity of this person will have a deterrent effect on others taking part in similar activities and will also ensure full transparency is afforded to this issue of utmost national security importance."

MI5 claimed the man was an agent who had engaged in "covert and deceptive activity" on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.