China: Breach of UK Parliamentarians’ Data

Max Wilkinson Excerpts

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

[Max Wilkinson (Cheltenham) (LD)]

Mr Speaker, I know you take the safety of Members of this House very seriously. These revelations are deeply alarming and reflect yet another attack on our liberal democracy. As MPs, we know that our parliamentary staff receive regular reminders to be vigilant against the CCP and its efforts to gain sensitive information. We receive those as MPs, yet we are told that the Home Office has not taken proactive steps to inform the Members concerned in this case.

I do not think the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith), who asked the urgent question, got the response he possibly deserves, so I will try again. When were Ministers first aware and when were officials first aware of the information that was reported in the Daily Mail this weekend? Will the Minister commit today to reviewing the process, so that Members are told promptly whenever the Government learn that their personal information is compromised, particularly when it is done by a hostile foreign power?

Recent reports have revealed what the Financial Times has described as a

“chronic shortage of China expertise”

in the British state, both in the FCDO and in MI6. Meanwhile, the US has built a dedicated China office. Will the Minister set out a plan to rebuild our China expertise urgently, and will he consider adding China to the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme, as the Joint Committee on Human Rights has recommended?

[Dan Jarvis]

I am grateful to the hon. Member, as I always am, although I am slightly perplexed that he has sought to get me to do things that he knows I am not able to do from this Dispatch Box. I always listen very carefully to what he has to say, not least because of the constituency he represents and the extraordinarily important work that his constituents do on behalf of the nation. It is because I value their work, their contribution and their important commitment to our national security that I am not going to take any risks in relation to prejudicing activities that are under way. His constituents will understand that, and I hope that he does as well.

I thought the hon. Member made an important point about ensuring that we do everything we possibly can to protect our democratic processes. I give him an assurance—and I hope you would agree with this assertion, Mr Speaker—that the Government work very closely with Mr Speaker and the parliamentary authorities, the police and intelligence partners to ensure that Members of both Houses receive relevant briefings where that is necessary and appropriate.

I completely understand the demand and clamour among Members to know more information earlier than we are able to present it to them. I fully understand the desire for that information, but I hope he will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to get into a commentary, particularly on the Floor of the House, on issues that may lead to the prejudicing of ongoing investigations, not least given the nature of the allegations that have been made. That simply would not be appropriate and I am not going to do it, but I hope Members do understand how seriously the Government and I personally take these issues, and we will work around the clock to make sure that protections are in place so that Members can do their job.