Keir Starmer blasted for delay in foreign security scheme amid Chinese spy allegations: ‘We must have transparency!’

Shadow Housing Minister David Simmonds has called on the Government to explain its position on the foreign interest registration scheme, amid concerns for Britain’s foreign security measures.

Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP demanded clarity from Labour on what steps would be taken to protect Britain, following allegations surrounding suspected Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

In a statement issued on his behalf, Yang said he had done “nothing wrong or unlawful” and descriptions of him as an alleged spy were “entirely untrue”.

Reacting to the allegations, Simmonds told GB News: “After yesterday’s events, the Prime Minister needs to explain to Parliament and the country that, given the Government’s decision to delay our scheme for foreign interest registration, what steps he’s going to take to make sure that we are safe from the interference of foreign spies.”

The Shadow Housing Minister emphasised the need for securing Britain’s industrial base and ensuring appropriate transparency measures.

“We introduced those in Government. This Government, when it took office, decided to delay the implementation of those, and we need to know what they’re going to do as next steps to ensure that we have a safe and secure relationship with China,” he added.

Addressing the UK-China relationship, Simmonds acknowledged the decision by Starmer was “reasonable”, but stressed the Government must prove it prioritises British interests.

“That relationship has had its ups and downs over the years. The key thing now is that the government is looking for a reset in that relationship with China”, he said.

He added: “The UK and China have a very close trading relationship, and it goes back a very, very long time. That’s a reasonable thing for them to do, but they need to be able to demonstrate to the British people, to our businesses, that they have their interests at heart.

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“At the moment, there seems to be a bit of a black hole in the information that’s coming out of Government and that’s why we’re challenging them on that.”

Simmonds also emphasised the need for transparency in foreign relations, particularly regarding the Foreign Interest Registration Scheme (FIRS).

He stated: “If you don’t wish to proceed with a scheme like FIRS, which brings transparency by ensuring that anybody who’s acting as an agent for another government in our country has to register that fact that everybody knows what they’re here for and what they’re here to do, then we need to know what the alternative measures are.”

The Shadow Minister’s challenge to the Government highlighted the urgent need for clarity on security measures.

“We need to know what the alternative measures are that this government would bring forward,” Simmonds concluded.

Starmer has defended the UK’s engagement with China despite the allegations, telling a press conference in Norway: “I had a meeting with the [Chinese] president just a few weeks ago.

“Our approach is one of engagement, of cooperating where we need to cooperate, particularly for example on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should, particularly on issues like human rights, and to compete when it comes to trade.

“So that’s the strategic approach that we’ve set out as a UK Government. I’m not going to comment on Buckingham Palace or the royal side, because, by convention, the Government never does.”