Overview
- MI5 warned parliamentarians on Tuesday that Chinese actors are targeting the UK’s democratic institutions through recruitment attempts.
- Officials said operatives have posed as external headhunters and approached parliamentary assistants, economists, think‑tank staff, geopolitical consultants and civil servants.
- MPs were given the names of two suspected recruiters said to operate on online platforms.
- Security Minister Dan Jarvis announced measures including stricter rules on political donations, tougher sanctions for election interference and awareness campaigns for parliamentary, university and business staff.
- The alert follows controversy over dropped espionage charges tied to Parliament and comes as the government faces pressure over China policy, a pending decision on a new Chinese embassy in London and calls to tighten foreign‑influence rules.