MPs will seek to raise concerns this week over Chinese infiltration in Britain after it emerged an alleged spy became a “close” confidant to Prince Andrew.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith is applying for an urgent question on Monday on Beijing’s United Front Work Department, the group said to be linked to an unnamed man at the centre of allegations.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has warned his Reform UK party may use parliamentary privilege to name the alleged agent, known only as H6, unless a court lifts the anonymity order protecting him.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, questioned about the case Sunday, described Britain’s relationship with China as “complex,” saying there is a need to balance economic ties while having a “strong approach” to security.
The Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Jim McMahon, told Times Radio that he would not be “queuing up” to name H6.
“I think we have a privilege in Parliament, which is that we do have parliamentary privilege, and that should be exercised with caution, and the overriding public interest has to be maintained, of course.”
He added: “From a personal point of view, it’s not something that I’d be queuing up to do today in the context of the person being known to the authorities and the matter being dealt with.”
Sir Iain told the Guardian he seeks to pressure the Government over the foreign influence registration scheme (Firs), which is designed to protect Britain from covert influence but has not yet been implemented.
Firs would require people to disclose their partners, alleged directed activities, and the arrangement date.
“We want to know: what’s happening to the risk register? Are you planning to continue with it? And are you going to put China in the upper tier?” Sir Iain said.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told LBC he was “extremely worried” about the case and that the court order protecting the man’s identity should be lifted so that “justice can be seen to be done”.
MPs have expressed concern about the level of access gained by a Chinese businessman, who reportedly also met with former prime ministers Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May as well as Prince Andrew.
At a hearing in July, the tribunal was told that an adviser to Andrew 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 from aide Dominic Hampshire, referencing the event, was found on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021.
The letter also said: “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.”
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