United Kingdom

Archived

• The UK's domestic security service, MI5, warned politicians and their staff that they are being targeted by spies from China, Russia and Iran in efforts to undermine British democracy.
• MI5 said foreign actors may use methods such as dishonest online approaches, hacks and cyber attacks to recruit assets and obtain information, and may use financial donations to influence politicians' decisions.
• The security service urged politicians to be wary of "overt flattery", conduct due diligence on new contacts, and report any suspicious interactions to their security team promptly.

[...]

“The UK is a target of long-term strategic foreign interference and espionage from elements of the Russian, Chinese and Iranian states which, in different ways, seek to further their economic and strategic interests and cause harm to our democratic institutions,” according to the advice.

The document comes just weeks after a high-profile espionage case in which two men were accused of spying for China fell apart, sparking criticism of the government’s handling of the case and Starmer’s wider policy toward Beijing, with which he has sought to improve diplomatic ties since entering office last year.

Separately, Nathan Gill — a former Welsh leader of Nigel Farage’s populist right-wing Reform UK party — pleaded guilty last month to taking bribes in exchange for making statements in favor of Russia.

[...]