Parliamentary researcher arrested for ‘spying for China’ insists he’s innocent
A TORY aide arrested on suspicion of spying for China today said he is “completely innocent” in a statement.
The 28-year-old was arrested under the Official Secrets Act after allegedly passing top secret documents to China.
He was detained in March but the arrest was undisclosed until Saturday.
The parliamentary aide has now released a statement through his lawyers claiming he is innocent.
Birnberg Peirce said: “I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a ‘Chinese spy’. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place.
“However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party.
“To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for.”
The suspected spy was handed an access-all-areas pass at Westminster after lobbying for Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns to get elected.
He also had links with security minister Tom Tugendhat.
At the time, he was working as a researcher for the China Research Group of MPs, which was set up by Mr Tugendhat and run by Ms Kearns.
The suspect continued to work as a researcher to the CRG until June this year.
Mr Tugendhat has had no contact with him since he was appointed security minister in September last year.
He is now pushing for China to be relabelled as a threat to Britain’s safety under new national security laws along with Home Secretary Suella Braverman, The Times reports.
Anyone working “at the direction” of China or a state-linked firm would have to register and disclose their activities or risk jail under the plans.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith has also been pressing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to name China as a national threat.
He said: “The result is that China is penetrating all our institutions from universities to Parliament.
“Time to speak through strength not weakness.”