The British counterintelligence service MI5 has developed a guide for UK politicians on countering espionage from Russia, China, and Iran, according to the government’s website. The intelligence agency warned members of both Houses of Parliament, their staff, and police officers to be wary of spies attempting to extract sensitive information critical to national security. The guide emphasizes that operatives from these three countries also aim to undermine British democracy.
The document notes that adversaries may try to gather information about parliamentarians and their colleagues through blackmail, phishing attacks, or long-term relationship-building. Spies could approach UK politicians online, during foreign trips, or via attempts to gain influence through “financial donations.”
“Foreign intelligence officers frequently operate covertly and exploit professional networking sites and personal vulnerabilities to build influence,” said UK security minister Dan Jarvis.
MI5 highlighted that politicians at all levels could be targeted because of their access to classified information and their ability to shape policy or public opinion.
“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 and ability to protect our citizens’ interests,” said MI5 chief Ken McCallum.
The agency cited previous examples of foreign influence on UK politicians, including former MEP Nathan Gill, who admitted to receiving money for pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament, and lawyer Christine Lee, who worked with a Chinese Communist Party unit.
The MI5 security guide was issued a month after the collapse of a case involving two Britons accused of spying on UK parliamentarians for Beijing. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges after the government refused to recognize China as an “enemy” and a “national security threat.”
