Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 has issued a rare public warning to Members of Parliament, alerting them that they are being actively targeted by spies from China, Russia, and Iran seeking to undermine the country’s democratic institutions.
The advisory, circulated on Monday, cautioned lawmakers and their staff to be vigilant against espionage tactics including blackmail, phishing attacks, and attempts by foreign agents to cultivate personal or financial relationships to gain influence.
MI5 also warned against accepting political donations that could be linked to foreign state actors.
“When foreign states steal vital UK information or manipulate our democratic processes, they don’t just damage our security in the short term, they erode the foundations of our sovereignty,” MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said.
He urged parliamentarians to “take action today to protect democracy, and themselves.”
The warning comes just a week after prosecutors were forced to abandon the trial of two British men accused of spying for China.
The case collapsed when the government declined to provide intelligence evidence that would demonstrate China posed a threat to national security.
MI5 advised MPs to monitor “odd social interactions,” such as persistent private meeting requests or excessive flattery, as potential signs of espionage attempts. The agency also highlighted the risk of long-term infiltration efforts disguised as professional or personal connections.
This is not the first time MI5 has sounded the alarm over foreign interference in British politics.
In January 2022, the agency identified London-based lawyer Christine Lee as being involved in political influence operations linked to China’s Communist Party, alleging she had facilitated donations to serving and aspiring MPs. Lee later sued MI5 to clear her name but lost the case.
The new alert underscores Britain’s growing concern over covert foreign influence, even as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to recalibrate relations with China since taking office last year.
Despite efforts to ease tensions, London and Beijing have continued to exchange accusations of espionage.
Responding to the abandoned spy case, China’s embassy in London dismissed the allegations as “entirely fabricated and malicious slander,” reiterating that Beijing “firmly rejects” claims of directing individuals to steal British intelligence.
Security officials say the latest warning is part of a broader effort to strengthen resilience within the UK’s political system, as foreign powers intensify cyber and human intelligence operations aimed at shaping British policy and weakening its global influence.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
