Labour MP’s partner reportedly arrested on suspicion of spying for China
Three men, one of whom was reportedly an associate of a Labor MP, were arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting China’s foreign intelligence service.
London Counter Terrorism Police arrested a 39-year-old man at an address in London, a 68-year-old man in Powys in mid-Wales and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun in South Wales.
The BBC reported that one of the three people arrested on suspicion was the partner of a Labor MP. A second man is understood to be the partner of a former Labor MP. protector reported.
They were taken into police custody and remained there.
Officers searched the addresses where the men were arrested and also carried out searches at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of London Counter Terrorism Police, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our national security-related incidents in recent years and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malicious activity where we suspect it.
“Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation, and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there is an imminent or direct threat to the public in relation to this. Our investigation is ongoing and we thank the public for their continued support.”
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart asked security minister Dan Jarvis in the House of Commons whether it was true that one of the people arrested was the wife of a sitting Labor MP and the other was the current wife of a former Labor MP.
He also demanded the Government not allow the case to collapse, that ministers summon the Chinese ambassador and whether he should be placed in the “enhanced tier” of China’s foreign influence registration scheme (FIRS).
Mr Jarvis refused to confirm the reports but warned there would be “serious consequences” if China was proven to be trying to interfere in Britain’s sovereign affairs.
He told MPs: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence that China is attempting to interfere in the UK’s sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.”
He added: “The government is taking strong steps to ensure that the UK’s democratic institutions and processes are not a difficult target for this activity.
“The National Security Act provides our intelligence agencies and law enforcement with the modern legal tools they need to deter, detect and thwart all forms of state threats.
“The action that the counter-terrorism police were able to take this morning is an example of the legislation working well.”
