Three men – one of whom is the partner of a sitting Labour MP and former ministerial special advisor – have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
The men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting China’s foreign intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
Counter Terrorism Policing London 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, south Wales.
Labour MP Joani Reid, whose spouse David Taylor is one of the people arrested, said: “I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.
“I am not part of my husband’s business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children’s privacy.”
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Those arrested were taken into police custody, where they remain.
Officers have searched the addresses where the men were arrested and have also carried out searches at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride, and Cardiff.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign 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 to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.”
About her spouse, East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Ms Reid added: “I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.
“As far as I am aware I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.
“I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party’s dictatorship.”
Mr Taylor is the director of policy and programmes at the London based Asia House think tank but used to be a senior political advisor for the Labour Party and a special advisor to the West Secretary in 2010. Among his current roles he is also advisor to the Central Asia All Parliamentary Group chaired by Labour MP Pam Cox.
The Independent has gone to Asia House and Ms Cox for comment.
The arrests come at a time of heightened concerns about China trying to spy on British democracy after recriminations over the collapse of a case last year involving a parliamentary researcher and a teacher. There have also been concerns expressed in the Commons over China being given permission to build a super embassy in London just days before Sir Keir Starmer made a trip to Beijing.
Addressing the latest arrests in parliament, security minister Dan Jarvis warned there will be “severe consequences” if it is proven that China attempted to interfere with UK sovereign affairs.
Mr Jarvis said the investigation “relates to China” and “foreign interference targeting UK democracy”.
He told MPs: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.
“The Government is taking robust action to ensure the UK’s democratic institutions and processes are a hard 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 disrupt the full range of state threats.
“The action counter-terrorism police have been able to take this morning is an example that that legislation is working well.”
But Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: “Here we are again, another year, another Chinese spy scandal, and the backdrop to it is this government’s failed policy of appeasement.
“The government must now surely be coming to the realisation that unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain.”
Mr Burghart referenced the previous collapsed spy scandal case involving China and the recent approval of the Chinese mega-embassy in central London. He recalled Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing for trade deals.
He added: “We in this House watched as these things happen, and the Chinese state watched too and saw that it could act with impunity. The minister says there is no trade-off between our democratic and national interests, and security interests, and our economic interests. But I’m afraid that is exactly what has happened.”
