British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has raised significant concerns about Chinese interference in the UK's parliamentary democracy during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in New Delhi. This comes after a suspected Chinese agent was arrested for spying in Westminster earlier this year.
Arrest of Parliamentary Researcher
In a bombshell revelation, it was discovered that a British parliamentary researcher with connections to several prominent MPs, including cabinet minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns, was arrested in March. The individual, who had been working for senior Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, was arrested alongside another man by officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command.
Investigation and Detention
The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating the case, focusing on espionage-related offenses. The two men were detained in Oxfordshire and Edinburgh, and searches were conducted at their residential properties as well as a third address in east London. Both individuals have been released on bail until early October.
Concerns Raised by Sunak
Rishi Sunak took the opportunity to discuss these alarming developments with Premier Li Qiang during their meeting at the G20 summit. A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street confirmed that the prime minister expressed serious concerns about Chinese interference in the UK's parliamentary democracy.
Reactions from Expert Group and MPs
Reacting to the news, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China pressure group expressed their shock and stated that they were "appalled at reports of the infiltration of the UK parliament by someone allegedly acting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China". Meanwhile, Tom Tugendhat, who had no contact with the researcher since becoming security minister in September last year, remains unaffected by the incident.
Alicia Kearns, the MP for whom the researcher had been working, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, emphasizing the need to ensure the authorities' work is not jeopardized. However, a source close to her stated that it is unsurprising the Chinese Communist Party would target and attempt to undermine leading voices in Parliament who have shown resistance to the CCP's ambitions.
