2 h. ago China’s power play: MI5 warns of relentless espionage attempts in Britain

Alert says Beijing trying to recruit British sources in parliament, even if potential gains may be unclearAn unexpected connection on LinkedIn. An offer of work from a headhunter, most likely a young woman, based in China. The chance to earn perhaps £20,000 part-time writing a handful of geopolitical reports for a Chinese company peppered with “non-public” or “insider” insights. Payment in cryptocurrency or cash preferred.It may seem obvious, on this telling, that something about this approach would be amiss. Nevertheless, China’s powerful ministry of state security (MSS) still considers it worthwhile to deploy recruitment consultants to try it – leading MI5 to warn repeatedly about their activity online. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Is Russia a bigger threat to the UK than China?

Britain was today monitoring the Russian spy ship Yantar on the edge of UK waters, in the same week as MI5 issued warning over spying threats from China.

Events

11 h. ago Watch out for online contact with Chinese spies, UK defence minister warns public

After MI5 issues China espionage alert to parliament, Luke Pollard says message should be heeded by all citizensUK politics live – latest updatesOrdinary UK citizens need to watch out for online contact with Chinese spies, the defence minister has said, after MI5 issued an espionage alert to parliament.Luke Pollard said a warning given to parliamentarians on Tuesday that China was attempting to recruit individuals with access to sensitive information should also be heeded by the public at large. Continue reading...

Events

19 h. ago Forget old maids and spinsters, meet the SOFTies! Why celebs choosing to be on their own

For generations, single women were squeezed into labels like 'spinster' or 'old maid'.

Politics

19 h. ago Commons targeted by Chinese spooks: MI5 warns MPs and staff to be on guard after exposing two women spies

In a move that makes a 'mockery' of Labour 's attempts to cosy up to the hostile state, MI5 took the unusual step of naming two female recruiters.

Events

25 h. ago UK warns China against spying after MI5 tells MPs they are being targeted

Security minister Dan Jarvis says Beijing is trying to recruit people with access to the British government

Events

29 h. ago We will not tolerate ‘covert’ interference, says minister amid China spying risk

MPs, peers and parliamentary staff have been warned by MI5 over spying threats from Chinese security services.

Politics

30 h. ago MI5 names two people in alert to MPs and peers about Chinese espionage

Spy agency says Amanda Qui and Shirly Shen have been using LinkedIn to ‘obtain non-public and insider insights’MI5 has issued an espionage alert to MPs and peers warning that two people linked to the Chinese intelligence service are actively seeking to recruit parliamentarians.The two people, who operate as headhunters on the LinkedIn professional networking website aiming to obtain “non-public and insider insights”, MI5 said, are also targeting economists, thinktank staff and civil servants for their access to politicians. Continue reading...

Events

30 h. ago Revealed: China's LinkedIn 'spies' who targeted MPs as ministers vow to stop Beijing getting 'sensitive' access to Westminster

MI5 has issued an alert about two individuals in China trying to 'interfere with our processes and influence activity at Parliament'.

Politics

30 h. ago MI5 warns lawmakers that Chinese spies are trying to reach them via LinkedIn

Britain's domestic intelligence agency has warned lawmakers that Chinese spies are reaching out to them via recruitment headhunters

Events

30 h. ago MI5 issues new China espionage warning after spies pose as headhunters on LinkedIn to target MPs

Security minister Dan Jarvis said the government will not tolerate ‘covert and calculated’ attempts by China to interfere with the UK’s sovereign affairs

Events

31 h. ago Revealed: China's 'honeytrap' headhunters who targeted MPs as ministers vow to stop Beijing getting 'sensitive' access to Westminster

MI5 has issued an alert about two individuals in China trying to 'interfere with our processes and influence activity at Parliament'.

Politics

31 h. ago Chinese spying amounts to interference in UK democracy, minister says, after MI5 warns MPs – politics live

Dan Jarvis, the security minister, says China is trying to contact MPs and peers to get sensitive information about parliamentBack at the Reform UK press conference, Zia Yusuf, the party’s head of policy, has just finished outlining his plan to cut spending on foreignersAs he finished, Yusuf claimed this was “treachery”.Labour is making the conscious and deliberate decision to continue funding extortionate amounts to foreign nationals, to the detriment of British citizens.And I don’t know what to call that. Frankly, in my view, it’s treachery. I think it’s appalling. British people are sick and tired of it.Just a few months ago, Rachel Reeves was saying she couldn’t afford to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Now it looks like becoming her latest U-turn.This isn’t because the economic circumstances have improved. Quite the opposite. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago MI5 warns MPs they could be targeted by Chinese spies in new ‘espionage alert’

A new ‘espionage alert’ has been circulated to members of the houses of Commons and Lords, issued by the security services

Events

32 h. ago MPs put on high alert over China spying: MI5 warns politicians Beijing agents are targeting them online for 'sensitive information'

MI5 has issued an alert about two individuals in China trying to 'interfere with our processes and influence activity at Parliament'.

Events

5 d. ago Keir Starmer clears his chief of staff over 'toxic' briefings that branded his own MPs 'feral' despite growing calls for him to be sacked

The Prime Minister cleared Morgan McSweeney without even holding an investigation after he was accused of being at the centre of a disastrous briefing operation against Wes Streeting.

Events

6 d. ago After the glory of Euro 2025, what happened next for Switzerland?

While there are promising signs of Swiss growth, there is some way to go to cement lasting legacy for the tournamentSwitzerland were the toast of the continent this summer as hosts of the Women’s European Championship. The national team reached the quarter-finals for the first time and a total of 623,088 were in attendance at the 31 matches, a tournament record. The hope within Switzerland was for a boost at club level similar to what England experienced three years previously. Those heights have not been reached, but there has been a definite bump.According to Switzerland’s football association, their Women’s Super League has enjoyed a 62% increase in attendances this season, with an average attendance of 787. While that does not compare with the huge spike England’s Women’s Super League had after Euro 2022 – an average attendance increase of 172% the following season – it is still encouraging.This is an extract from our free email about women’s football, Moving the Goalposts. To g...

Politics

7 d. ago Pressure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row

Growing calls for Morgan McSweeney to go after extraordinary briefing operation against Wes StreetingKeir Starmer is coming under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting.Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff and would not respond to several demands to ensure there were “consequences” for the briefers. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Keir Starmer under pressure over future of Morgan McSweeney amid briefing row

Ministers and Labour MPs point finger at PM’s chief of staff over No 10 operation that targeted Wes StreetingUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is facing intense pressure over the future of Morgan McSweeney after the prime minister’s chief of staff was blamed for No 10’s pushback against a possible leadership challenge.After Starmer dodged a question from Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions about whether he had full confidence in his key aide, Downing Street later clarified that he did. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Vatican Swiss guard under investigation for ‘making spitting gesture at Jewish women’

The women in St Peter’s Square said the guard ‘noticeably hissed at us’

Economics