MPs express alarm after researcher's arrest over alleged spying for China

MPs have reacted with alarm after it emerged that a parliamentary researcher with links to senior Conservatives and potential access to sensitive information had been arrested over allegations of spying for China.

- Peter Walker, Kiran Stacey, Dan Sabbagh

The man, who is in his 20s and was arrested in March along with another person, is known to have held a parliamentary pass, allowing him unescorted access to large parts of the Westminster estate.

MPs said there was a need to tighten up the procedures for issuing such passes, with some expressing anger that the man had reportedly been able to work with a series of senior MPs, some of whom are now ministers, on foreign affairs issues including relations with China.

"Parliament can be a bit like a sieve," one MP with an interest in China policy said. "It's still pretty easy to get sponsored for a pass, and there are all sorts of parliamentary groups which do it." At the end of his visit to the G20 summit in Delhi, Rishi Sunak personally challenged the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, over the allegations, first reported by the Sunday Times.

After the meeting, Sunak said: "I obviously can't comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation but with regard to my meeting with Premier Li, what I said very specifically is that I raised a range of concerns we have in areas of disagreement, and in particular my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable."