Tory parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China says he’s 'completely innocent'

11 September 2023, 11:38 | Updated: 11 September 2023, 13:37

The Tory parliamentary expert on China accused of spying for Beijing has said he is 'completely innocent'
The Tory parliamentary expert on China accused of spying for Beijing has said he is 'completely innocent'. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

The parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China has insisted he is "completely innocent".

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The man said he had spent his career highlighting the "challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party".

The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to the Prime Minister confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday over "unacceptable" interference in democracy.

In a statement released through his lawyers Birnberg Peirce, the researcher - who has not been officially named by police - said: "I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a 'Chinese spy'.

"It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place.

Read more: Terror suspect Daniel Khalife 'escaped from Wandsworth prison strapped under truck with bed sheets,' court hears

Read more: Suspected Chinese spy found working in Parliament - with link to senior Government figures Tugendhat and Kearns

The man was arrested under the Official Secrets Act
The man was arrested under the Official Secrets Act. Picture: Alamy

"However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent.

"I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party.

"To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for."

The Briton was arrested along with another man by officers on March 13 on suspicion of spying for Beijing, it was revealed by the Sunday Times.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating
Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command are investigating. Picture: Alamy

One of the men, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire on March 13, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said.

Both were held on suspicion of offences under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be "prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state".

They have been bailed until early October.

The arrests were only revealed at the weekend and the researcher at the centre of the row had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will address MPs about the situation at the start of Monday's business in the chamber.

The allegations have led to increased pressure from China "hawks" on the Tory benches for the Prime Minister to toughen his stance towards Beijing.

During the Tory leadership contest last year, Mr Sunak described China as the "biggest long-term threat to Britain" but official language used since he took office has been softer, with the integrated review of foreign and defence policy calling it an "epoch-defining challenge".

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch suggested that designating China a threat would "escalate things" with Beijing.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today: "China is the second largest economy in the world, it's heavily integrated in our economy as it is with many of our allies... We're taking the same approach that those countries are taking."

Ms Badenoch said the UK was taking certain measures including making sure it has proper investment screening.

"We are taking action, what we're not doing is giving endless running commentary on that because that would actually be more helpful to China than it would be to our security services," she said.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former party leader who has been sanctioned by China, was among Tories pressing the Prime Minister to strengthen his language towards Beijing.

He hit out at the "weak" position of not labelling China a threat, telling the PA news agency: "The result is that China is penetrating all our institutions from universities to Parliament.

"Time to speak through strength not weakness."

Tory backbencher and Home Affairs Select Committee member Tim Loughton, who has also been sanctioned by Beijing, told Times Radio: "It really is not remotely appropriate that those of us most in the firing line, being sanctioned by China under threat by China, have not been given some briefing about exactly what's happened."

China hit out at the arrests and claimed the situation was a "political farce".

A spokesman for China's embassy in London said: "The claim that China is suspected of 'stealing British intelligence' is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander.

"We firmly oppose it and urge relevant parties in the UK to stop their anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce."

Former head of MI6 Sir Alex Younger said co-operation with China is necessary but "just being nice to them doesn't get you very far".

He told Today: "China is a fact, it's a huge country, we've got to find ways of engaging with it, and find ways of co-operating with it in important areas like climate change, and sometimes we have to be absolutely prepared to confront it when we believe that our security interests are threatened."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The UK is on a 'slippery slope to death on demand', Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said in a letter to constituents.

'Slippery slope to death on demand': Justice Secretary details concern over assisted dying debate

Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open.

Andy Murray to coach old rival Novak Djokovic at Australian Open after retiring in August

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Negotiators from climate-vulnerable nations walk out of COP29 in row over funding deals

Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine

Kremlin warns 'a collision between the nuclear powers' is imminent as West fires missiles into Russia

Coleen Rooney on I'm A Celeb

'Wagatha Christie strikes again': Coleen Rooney uncovers I'm A Celeb secret as she calls out campmates

Chloe Barlow is one of the small business owners who will be affected by the change

'It's a mess': Small businesses hit out at EU red tape set to cost thousands, and say 'government has been no help'

Foreign tourists ride on boat in a river in Vang Vieng

Laos government 'saddened' by deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng which include South London woman

Leading brands are dumping Captain Tom Moore’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Top brands distance themselves from Captain Tom’s daughter after she cashed in on her father's legacy

Euston station has reopened

Euston station reopens after bomb squad carry out 'controlled explosion'

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 60 injured, Lebanon's health ministry has stated

Huge Israeli air strikes hit residential building in central Beirut, killing at least 11 people

Homebase was waiting on around £5 million of tax rebates before collapsing into administration

Full list of Homebase stores up for sale after chain collapses into administration

Live
Storm Bert has hit the UK

Live: Three dead as Storm Bert claims first victims as two die in car crashed and another is crushed by tree

The late Queen and Donald Trump

Queen Elizabeth found Donald Trump to be 'ignorant and hurtful' after Princess Margaret remark

Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads

Trains, planes and roads in chaos as Storm Bert sweeps UK with 82 mph winds and heavy snow

The Princess of Wales during a visit to Southport Community Centre

Princess Kate invites Southport stabbing survivors to Christmas carol concert after meeting them last month

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph

Gordon Brown says he will not support assisted dying bill