On 4 March, counter terrorism police arrested three former
parliamentary advisers on suspicion of spying for China,
including the spouse of a sitting MP.
The London Assembly notes the significant
opposition to plans for a new Chinese Embassy near the Tower of
London. This planning application was opposed by Tower Hamlets
Council, before being called in by the Secretary of State.
Assembly Members have repeatedly raised concerns
with the Mayor, who has thus far declined to intervene.
The Assembly has today called
on the Mayor to write to the Secretary of State calling for the
decision to grant planning permission to be reversed given these
new developments.
Lord Bailey AM, who proposed
the motion, said:
"The revelations this week of individuals being arrested for
alleged involvement in spying should be a cause for concern for
us in London.
“In the midst of heightened tensions, we must reexamine all
decisions to ensure we are upholding national safety. I am
pleased the Assembly has supported my motion to this end."
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly notes with extreme concern the arrest on 4 March by
counter terrorism police of three former parliamentary advisers
on suspicion of spying for China, including the spouse of a
sitting MP.
This follows the collapse in October 2025 of a court case where
two former MP staffers were accused of spying for China, after
the charges were controversially dropped by the Crown Prosecution
Service. Meanwhile, MI5 raised concerns in November 2025 about
Chinese intelligence operatives allegedly attempting to contact
UK parliamentarians and other influential figures on LinkedIn by
posing as legitimate recruiters.
This Assembly further notes the significant opposition to plans
for a new Chinese Embassy near the Tower of London. This planning
application was opposed by Tower Hamlets Council, before being
called in by the Secretary of State. Assembly Members have
repeatedly raised concerns with the Mayor, who has thus far
declined to intervene.
In particular, there are significant concerns about the embassy
potentially being used for espionage of our critical
infrastructure, especially given its proximity to the City of
London. It has also been reported that MI5 believes it would have
to move underground fibre optic cables in the vicinity, at a
potential cost of hundreds of millions of pounds.
The increasing number of alleged Chinese espionage cases in the
UK only serves to heighten these concerns.
This Assembly believes there is a clear and indisputable threat
to the City of London and Britain's security if the Chinese
Embassy development is allowed to go ahead, and therefore
believes it should be halted.
This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to write to the
Secretary of State calling for the decision to grant planning
permission to be reversed given these new developments.
Should the Secretary of State decline to do so, this Assembly
calls on the Mayor to urgently support a judicial review into
this planning application, in defence of London's security,
economy and local resident concerns.
Notes to editors:
- The Motion was agreed unanimously.
