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UK political parties should have increased access to intelligence on potential donors, candidates, and staff members to safeguard against infiltration by spies. Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, has urged for a new intelligence-sharing framework between the security services and the country’s main political parties, according to sources familiar with the situation.
This call for action follows allegations of Chinese espionage and the arrest of a parliamentary researcher linked to Tory MPs under the Official Secrets Act. While the vetting process for parliamentary staff was scrutinized, concerns were also raised about the vulnerability of political parties, which some security officials regard as the weak point of the UK’s democratic institutions.
Government insiders believe that political parties currently have insufficient access to sensitive information about potential donors, candidates, and other individuals associated with their representatives and officials. Mordaunt, working with officials, is actively exploring new methods for data sharing between intelligence agencies and political parties.
Some argue that the level of intelligence support provided to parties is not as strong as that given to the parliamentary security department or the Cabinet Office team. However, others refute this claim, asserting that the security assistance offered is already robust.
In 2021, MI5 warned the Conservative Party that two of its candidates might be working as spies for the Chinese state. These individuals were subsequently barred from the Tory candidates list due to intervention from the security services. MI5 also alerted MPs last year about a Chinese agent engaged in political interference activities, including a large donation to a Labour parliamentarian.
The surge of online disinformation, often originating from cyber networks supported by hostile states, has also raised concerns in the government. Mordaunt initiated efforts in June to address this issue, including fostering stronger connections between intelligence officials and the House of Commons Library, which provides research briefings for MPs.
The defending democracy task force, established by the government, is actively working to mitigate the risk of foreign interference in the UK’s democratic processes, institutions, and society. Tom Tugendhat chairs this group, which brings together ministers, intelligence officials, mandarins, law enforcement agencies, parliamentary representatives, and executives.
The Home Office declined to comment on security arrangements but emphasized that the UK maintains robust security measures that undergo constant evaluation.
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