MI5 to train MPs to spot spies after espionage case dropped

In a bid to bolster parliamentary security, MI5’s National Protective Security Authority will provide training to MPs and peers to identify potential foreign intelligence threats, according to The Sunday Times. The program, aimed at high-risk individuals and their aides, will advise on heightened caution in hiring, assessing motives, and managing social media use.

The plan follows the decision to drop charges against two men accused of spying on behalf of a foreign actor. Parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash, 30, from Whitechapel, east London, and Christopher Berry, 33, a British teacher from Witney, Oxfordshire, were charged under the Official Secrets Act over alleged activities between December 2021 and February 2023 and were set to stand trial in October. On Monday, prosecutors said the case would not proceed due to an evidential shortfall, adding there was no outside pressure influencing the decision.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the decision effectively gave Beijing “licence to operate” within Parliament after the allegations the men targeted the China Research Group. He asserted that security within the House must be strengthened and that the door to foreign interference must be closed hard. Hoyle added that he would pursue all avenues to protect members and workers in the Commons, calling himself a “very unhappy Speaker” with how the case unfolded and noting the need for operational and legal review of safeguards.

The charges’ abrupt withdrawal drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a critic of China, told Times Radio that he believed Beijing spies were likely operating in Parliament but credited improvements in parliamentary security since the case, while warning that an open Parliament inherently carries risk.

Stephen Parkinson, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales, expressed disappointment and frustration at the decision to stop the prosecution, saying the Crown Prosecution Service had determined there was an evidential failure. Cash and Berry had denied that they collected or communicated information that could be useful to an enemy, and were told on Monday that the evidential stage of the case was no longer met.

The timing of the training program underscores ongoing concerns about foreign interference in Parliament, particularly in relation to groups focused on China. Officials involved in security services have emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance among MPs, peers, and staff. The National Protective Security Authority’s guidance is expected to cover signs of potentially compromising relationships, methods for vetting staff, and prudent use of social media to prevent inadvertent disclosures or missteps that could expose Parliament to foreign intelligence interests.

Officials stressed that the new steps are not about policing political debate but about reducing operational risk for those who work in Parliament. The program will complement existing security measures and other reviews underway to strengthen protections in line with evolving threats. As the House continues to scrutinize how such investigations are handled and how security is implemented, lawmakers on all sides have called for continued improvements to ensure Parliament can operate openly while remaining resilient against covert attempts at infiltration.

The government has pledged to pursue a comprehensive approach to parliamentary security, balancing transparency with safeguards. While Wednesday’s revelations about the dropped charges have sparked debate over security policy, proponents of the plan say targeted training for MPs and staff is a prudent step to mitigate risks from foreign actors who may seek to exploit the openness of Parliament.