China has sent “many, many” more spies to the UK in a bid to undermine our democracy, Sir Keir Starmer has been warned.
Beijing is trying to “change the way we do business here at home” and “steal our secrets”, former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said.
A court last week revealed an alleged Chinese spy, banned from Britain on national security grounds, had forged close ties with Prince Andrew and had been pictured alongside senior members of the British establishment.
And former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said there are “many, many more” like H6, the alleged Chinese spy, in the UK.
The MP is applying for an urgent question in the Commons on the influence of Beijing’s shadowy United Front Work Department, the group said to be associated with the unnamed man.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’re dealing with the tip of the iceberg. The fact is there are many more like him (H6) in the UK. There are many more doing the job that he’s been doing, and the fact he was leaving the UK tells you that he realised at some point he was going to get caught.
“The reality is that there are many, many more involved in exactly this kind of espionage that’s taking place. The reality for us is very simple – China is a very clear threat.”
Sir Iain also blasted claims the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs)was not “fit for purpose”.
The scheme would require individuals to disclose who they are in an arrangement with, what activity they have been directed to undertake, and when the arrangement was made.
Responding to a comment from a Home Office source, who told the Guardian that the Conservatives had not left the scheme in a fit state to be enacted but that it is still the Government’s intention for it come into force, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is nothing wrong with the foreign influence registration scheme.
“‘It’s not fit for purpose’, I don’t believe a word of that, nobody with half a brain will believe a word of that. The reality is, it’s an excuse not to upset China.
“We are now seen, I think, by our five eyes security partners, as the soft underbelly of that alliance and that’s a real worry.”
Former Security Minister Mr Tugendhat said Labour not putting China on the “enhanced” tier of the Firs register was “reckless”.
He said: “When I left as Security Minister in July, the Firs scheme was absolutely ready to go by the end of the year.
“I expected it, in fact, to be introduced before the election.
“So I expected to have the Firs scheme with China in the enhanced tier.
“It was all ready to go.
“I don’t know why the Labour Party is letting this drift. Frankly, I think that’s reckless.
“We need to be absolutely determined that we will deal with the threat that China poses, not just to the Royal Family, but across the whole of UK society.”
Mr Tugendhat claimed the head of MI5, Ken McCallum had called for China to be in the enhanced tier.
He added the move would allow the UK to “understand that pattern of life, so we can understand that kind of influence”.
Mr McCallum warned last year that Beijing is targeting tens of thousands of businesses in a bid to steal information.
He warned the Chinese Communist Party is not only interested in Government or military and wants to get its hands on the latest technology being developed by Western allies and businesses.
The alleged Chinese agent, known only as H6, also met former prime ministers Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May and kept pictures of them in his London office, according to reports.
Reports suggest he met Lord Cameron at a Downing Street reception and Lady May at a black-tie event.
The alleged spy was excluded from Britain in 2023 by then-home secretary Suella Braverman, with the Home Office saying he was believed to have carried out “covert and deceptive activity” for the Chinese Communist Party.
Judges at a specialist tribunal in London on Thursday ruled Ms Braverman had been “entitled to conclude” that he “represented a risk to the national security” after he challenged the decision.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described alleged activities carried out by Beijing in the UK were “deeply concerning” and need “looking at very carefully”.
He urged everyone in public life, academia and business to be “alert” to the risks of infiltration.
“If anyone has the slightest concern, they should contact the security services immediately,” he said.
Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said the man had been thought to pose a threat “especially in his relationship with Prince Andrew” which is why he was barred from coming to the UK.
But she downplayed the significance of the suspect being pictured with former prime ministers, telling Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that “photographs aren’t necessarily any more meaningful than photographs”.
Asked whether the revelations about the alleged spy’s relationship with Andrew were an embarrassment for the UK, Dame Angela said: “I’m not going to comment on the internal issues with the royal family. I don’t think that’s appropriate.
“Everybody knows what’s happened. They know the actions that’s been taken and they can come to their own judgment.”
MPs have raised concerns about the level of access the businessman was apparently able to gain at the heart of the British establishment.
Nigel Farage has said his Reform UK party is prepared to use parliamentary privilege to name the individual, whose identity is protected by a court order, in the Commons chamber.
The businessman had brought a case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after his initial exclusion in 2023, but his appeal was dismissed on Thursday.
At a hearing in July, the tribunal was told that an adviser to Andrew had said he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, and that H6 had been invited to the duke’s birthday party in 2020.
A letter referencing the event from the aide, Dominic Hampshire, was discovered on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021.
The letter also said: “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family.
“You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship… Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”
On Friday, a statement from the duke’s office said: “The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.
“The duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.
“He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.”
