Camilla Jessen
British intelligence warns lawmakers to beware of spies seeking influence.
Britain’s MI5 issued an uncommon public warning to members of Parliament on Monday.
A rare alert from Britain’s domestic spy agency
MI5 has alerted members of Parliament that spies from China, Russia, and Iran are targeting lawmakers in an effort to undermine the country’s democracy, Reuters reported.
Blackmail and financial donations
The agency said foreign intelligence operatives are attempting to infiltrate the political system through blackmail, phishing attacks, influence campaigns, and financial donations designed to sway decisions and policy.
MI5 warns of long-term manipulation
MI5’s guidance emphasized that spies may attempt to build deep, long-term relationships with politicians and their staff to access information or exert political pressure.
“When foreign states steal vital information from the U.K. or manipulate our democratic processes, they not only harm our short-term security, they erode the foundations of our sovereignty,” said MI5 Director General Ken McCallum.
“Strange social interactions”
The alert instructed politicians to stay cautious of unusual social behavior, including frequent invitations for private meetings, personal flattery, or offers of help that seem overly generous.
“Everyone reading this guide is deeply concerned about the role it plays in British democracy. Take action today to protect it – and to protect yourself,” McCallum wrote.
Warning follows dropped China spy case
The timing of the warning comes just a week after prosecutors dropped a major espionage case involving two men accused of spying for China in Parliament.
The trial collapsed after the British government declined to share evidence to prove Beijing posed a national security threat.
The outcome sparked renewed fears of foreign influence at Westminster.
Previous MI5 alert over Chinese interference
In January 2022, MI5 issued another public alert naming lawyer Christine Lee, accusing her of political interference on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
At the time, the Speaker of the House of Commons informed MPs that Lee had allegedly facilitated donations to members of Parliament and election candidates to increase Beijing’s political influence.
Lee denied the allegations and later sued MI5, but lost the case.
Beijing dismisses accusations as “fabricated”
After the recent case was dropped, the Chinese embassy in London condemned the allegations as false.
“The allegation that China instructed relevant British individuals to ‘steal British secret information’ is entirely fabricated and constitutes malicious slander, which we firmly reject,” the embassy said in a statement.
Ongoing tensions despite diplomatic efforts
While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tried to stabilize relations with China, the U.K. continues to face frequent espionage warnings from its intelligence services.
British security officials say hostile states are increasingly targeting political and business communities, using cyber operations and covert influence networks to weaken trust in democratic institutions.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, which may have used AI in the preparation
