Overview
- Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lords Speaker Lord McFall circulated an MI5 alert naming Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, whose LinkedIn profiles are said to be used on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security.
- MI5 said the activity is targeted and widespread, with operatives using cover companies, external headhunters and professional networking sites to approach potential sources in Westminster.
- Security Minister Dan Jarvis told MPs that Chinese intelligence officers are attempting to recruit individuals with access to sensitive information and that Beijing applies a low threshold to what it considers valuable data.
- The government announced a counter political interference and espionage action plan, including tougher donation risk assessments, enhanced Electoral Commission enforcement powers and tailored security briefings for parties, candidates and devolved administrations.
- Targets identified by the alert include MPs, peers, parliamentary staff, economists, think-tank employees and government officials, with the warning following months of official guidance and the collapse of a China-spying prosecution that intensified scrutiny.