MI5, Britain’s domestic security agency, has warned lawmakers that spies from China, Russia and Iran are actively trying to undermine UK democracy.
The warning was released late Monday and is aimed at MPs and their staff. Spies could use blackmail, phishing attacks and long‑term relationships to gain sensitive information.
Spies also want to influence politicians through online outreach, travel meetings and financial donations. “When foreign states steal UK information or manipulate our democratic processes, they not only threaten security in the short term but erode our sovereignty and our ability to protect our citizens,” said MI5 Director General Ken McCallum.
MI5 highlighted past examples of political interference, including the case of Christine Lee. In January 2022 MI5 issued an alert after finding that Lee had helped funnel money to UK parliamentarians on behalf of Chinese interests. Lee sued MI5 for the alert, claiming it was politically motivated, but lost the case last year.
The new guidance arrives after the collapse of a spy‑case against two British men accused of working for Beijing. The UK prosecutor said the charges were dropped because the government had not designated China as an “enemy” or a direct threat to national security.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament that the government had presented all the evidence it had in support of the case, but the decision was ultimately made to drop the prosecution.
With strategic interference from the Russian, Chinese and Iranian states continuing, MI5 urges MPs and staff to remain vigilant against all forms of espionage and interference.
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