Labour branded ‘weak’ as MPs consider naming ‘Chinese spy’ linked to Prince Andrew – latest news

Former security minister Tom Tugendhat has said that allegations that a Chinese spy became close to the Duke of York are the “tip of the iceberg”.

After reports that the alleged spy had met Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May, Mr Tugendhat was asked on BBC Breakfast how worried he was that Chinese spies had got within reach of senior Tories during his time in government.

The Conservative MP said: “I’m sure it’s happening now. I’m absolutely certain that there are members of the United Front Work Department who are active right now in attempting to influence journalism, academics, politics, and the whole lot. This is really the tip of the iceberg.

“And so the story I can understand why it’s been about Prince Andrew, but it’s not really about Prince Andrew. It’s about the way the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to exert influence here in the United Kingdom.”

He did not say whether he thought the alleged spy should be named in Parliament, saying instead that the important thing was to understand the level of threat and respond to it.

He urged the Government to introduce the foreign influence registration scheme and put China on the enhanced tier of it.

Ministers are under increasing pressure to act after an alleged Chinese spy became a close confidant of the Duke of York and reportedly met two former prime ministers, as MPs threatened to name him if the courts do not.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused a “weak” Labour government of not wanting to be seen to criticise China, while the shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said the public deserved to know the “full facts” behind the case, warning “we cannot turn a blind eye”.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the courts should name him. “The spy should be named – I hope the court change or cancel their anonymity order. There may be other people who have had contact with that person,” he said.

As calls mounted, Lord Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong accused the government of being “too soft” on China and urged ministers to set out a “pretty clear statement” on their policy towards the state. The demands came as home secretary Yvette Cooper claimed the government’s approach was “complex” because 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.

Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics blog.

We’ll bring you all the latest as MPs consider naming H6, the alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew, and the government faces growing calls to toughen its stance against Beijing.