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Ministers are under increasing pressure to act after the alleged Chinese a spy became a a close confidant of the Duke of York and allegedly met two former prime ministershow the MPs threatened to impeach him if the courts didn’t do it.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith accused the “weak” Labor government of not wanting to be seen to criticize China, while shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said the public deserved to know the “full facts” behind the case, warning “we cannot turn a blind eye”.
As the calls grew, Lord Patton, Hong Kong’s last governor, accused the government of being “too soft” on China and urged ministers to make a “small clear statement” about their policy towards the country. The demands came after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper claimed the government’s approach was “complex” as Britain needed to have economic cooperation with China – even as she warned the communist state The UK would take a “very strong approach” to national security.
On Monday, Duncan Smith will seek to drag ministers into the Commons to answer questions about the scandal by asking an urgent question in the House. There were warnings of a “major security breach” following reports on Sunday that David Cameron had met the businessman at a Downing Street reception.
He is also said to have met another former prime minister, Baroness Theresa May, and kept pictures of both in his London office.
Earlier this week, Prince Andrew’s relationship with an alleged spy has become the latest scandal to grasp Duke of Yorkafter the man was banned from entering the UK because he was deemed to be a threat to national security.
UK reform leader Nigel Farage he said The Independent could name the businessman, known only as H6, as early as Wednesday if the courts fail to do so.
He said his party could use parliamentary privilege – which provides legal immunity for MPs – to reveal the man’s name in the House of Commons.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the courts should appoint him. “The spy should be named – I hope the court will change or overturn their anonymity order. “Maybe there are other people who had contact with that person,” he said.
The businessmanwho liked to split his time between China and the UK, had previously been granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain where he established himself as a close confidant Duke of York.
Home Secretary Angela Eagle said the man was considered to be a threat “particularly in relation to Prince Andrew”, which is why he was banned from the UK.
She also said: “I can’t tell you anything (about him) because it’s a security-intelligence issue and the courts have made some decisions about it.”
But she warned Mr Farage to be “very careful” before using parliamentary privilege to appoint him.
However, the leading businessman added his name to those expressing concern over the man’s identity. James Reed, chief executive of the Reed Group, told the BBC: “I wonder who this spy is… it’s so important to know who someone is and who you can trust.”
Mr. Duncan Smith said The Independent his pressing question would be to ministers: “What do they know and will they do anything about it?”
“This is a blatant attempt to gain access to authorities, including the royal family, as well as the government, because now there are prime ministers who have been photographed with this image,” he said.
He accused Ms Cooper of making a “very weak” statement. “That basically means we have to deal with China, and that comes with risks. Well, they’re not just risks.” And he accused the government of being “desperate about growth… The government doesn’t want to answer this question, it doesn’t want to criticize China, it doesn’t want the ambassador to come forward.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: “We should have no doubt that China is a threat to our country’s national security. As this case of the spy in the heart of Whitehall has shown, there is significant evidence that China is working to undermine our institutions and the very values that underpin our country.
“It is in the public interest to know all the facts behind the spies, their motivation and statecraft. We cannot turn a blind eye to China’s hostile intrusions that have lasted for more than a decade and continue to erode trust between our two countries.”
Greater Manchester Labor mayor Andy Burnham described reports that Lord Cameron had met an alleged spy in Number 10 as a “major security breach”.
Labor grandee Baroness Harriet Harman said the government, parliamentarians, the royal family and wider society needed to “up their game” in spotting potential threats related to China.
China expert Jemimah Steinfeld, executive director of Index On Censorship, said the case was a “wake-up call” for the country.
Asked about former Conservative security minister Tom Tugendhat’s calls for an inquiry, Philp said: “This needs to be looked at carefully”.
He said he was “deeply concerned” about the alleged activities of the Chinese Communist Party in the UK and warned people in public life to be “extremely cautious”. He added: “I think everyone in public life and involved in business and academia needs to think very, very carefully about people who might be associated with the Chinese state.”
“I think it’s fair to Prince Andrew that as soon as he was alerted to the risk he cut off all contact, but this illustrates that there are risks and everyone needs to be extremely careful.”
In the same program, Mr. Philp said the Chinese Communist Party has “engaged in organized and systematic attempts to influence political life” for many years.
He said: “I am deeply concerned about the activities of the Chinese Communist Party.
“I think everyone in public life and involved in business and academia needs to think very, very carefully about people who might be associated with the Chinese state.”
“I think it’s fair to Prince Andrew that as soon as he was alerted to the risk he cut off all contact, but this illustrates that there are risks and everyone needs to be extremely careful.”
Former Conservative education secretary Gillian Keegan said: “We need to be more vigilant… they are the biggest strategic threat we have”.
Asked on the BBC Sunday with Laura Kuensberg Program what her message to China would be, Ms Cooper said: “We will continue to take a very strong approach to our national security, which includes any challenge to our national security, including our economic security from China, from other countries around the world, that will always be the approach we will use.
“Of course, with China we also have to make sure that we have that economic interaction, economic cooperation as well. So it’s a complex arrangement.”