UK House of Commons researcher arrested for spying for China

A researcher working for the UK House of Commons and another individual were arrested in March on suspicion of spying for China, according to a reports. The researcher was involved in matters related to global policies and had connections with several prominent members of the Conservative Party, some of whom had access to classified or extremely sensitive information. The arrested man had contacts with individuals such as Tom Tugendhat, the Minister of State for Security, and Alicia Kearns, the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. The Metropolitan Police Service released a brief statement confirming the arrests of a man in his 30s in Oxfordshire and a man in his 20s in Edinburgh under the Official Secrets Act. Searches were conducted at their respective residences as well as at a third location in east London. Both suspects have been granted bail and are due to appear in court later in October. The investigation into this matter is being conducted by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, responsible for handling cases related to espionage. A statement from Kearns acknowledged the public’s interest but emphasized the importance of not jeopardizing the work of the authorities. She declined to provide further details on the situation. A source close to Kearns, speaking to PA Media, expressed concern that if the allegations were true, it would represent a significant escalation in tensions with Beijing. Tensions between China and Western nations have risen in recent years, with the heads of MI5 and the FBI issuing a joint statement in July 2022, describing Beijing as the most significant long-term threat. However, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly adopted a more conciliatory tone during his recent visit to Beijing, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic and sensible working relationship with China. He also criticized calls for a complete disengagement from China. Beijing has consistently denied allegations of espionage, accusing Western nations of engaging in a global smear campaign and urging them to abandon their Cold War mentality. In June, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated, “We are firmly opposed to espionage activities and hope that relevant parties will refrain from groundless accusations against China.”