Overview
- MI5’s National Protective Security Authority plans to publish state‑agnostic guidance for MPs and parliamentary aides on guarding against espionage and interference.
- The guidance is expected to urge caution over hiring, meetings and social media connections, with travel advice including safeguarding devices when abroad.
- Security officials identify China and Russia as the principal sources of foreign interference, despite the guidance not naming specific states.
- Politicians are being encouraged to opt into a National Cyber Security Centre service that alerts them to malicious device activity and warns about blacklisted sites.
- Prosecutors halted the case against Chris Cash and Christopher Berry after the evidential threshold was not met, the director of public prosecutions denied outside pressure, and the Speaker warned Parliament is exposed while considering a private prosecution as ministers highlight the newer National Security Act replacing the Official Secrets Act’s ‘enemy’ language.