China ‘spy’ live updates: Judge to consider naming suspected agent linked to Prince Andrew

A minister will be forced to respond to questions from MPs in the wake of the Chinese spy allegations.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has been granted an urgent question in the Commons on the “extent of United Front Work Department operations in the UK”.

The urgent question follows revelations about an alleged Chinese agent known as H6 forging links at the heart of the British establishment, including with the Duke of York.

Downing Street would not say whether the Prime Minister or other ministers had met with an alleged Chinese spy.

“I can’t comment on intelligence or security cases like this, it is a live legal case,” The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters.

Asked whether ministers have spoken to Chinese government figures about the case, the spokesman said that “ministers and officials engage with China the whole time”, and would “always take an approach to China that is rooted in UK interests”.

The spokesman did not say whether the Prime Minister would support attempts to name the Chinese spy in the Commons, only saying that the legal case was a matter for the courts and that “everyone should be careful and do nothing which could undermine the case in question”.

On the future of the scheme designed to register foreign agents, the spokesman said: “The Government is working at pace to implement the foreign influence registration scheme. I’m not going to get ahead of that work, but any announcement would be made in the usual way.”

A judge will consider naming an alleged Chinese spy who was able to form links at the heart of the British establishment.

The suspect, known only as H6, is said to have become a “close” confidant of the Duke of York and has also been pictured with senior politicians including Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May.

They remain anonymous - although an urgent hearing is taking place at the Royal Courts of Justice today at 2pm where a judge is expected to review whether the suspect can be named.

Prince Andrew has been pictured driving from Royal Lodge in Windsor after it emerged his close confidant was an alleged Chinese spy.

The businessman, who liked to divide his time between China and UK – calling it his “second home” – had previously been granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain where he established himself as a close confidant of the Duke of York.

He is said to have used his high profile connection to secure invitations to Buckingham Palace and other royal residences, with fresh reports now alleging he also met two former prime ministers.

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he is concerned about the risk China poses to the UK amid allegations a Chinese spy was operating at the heart of Britain.

The prime minister did not comment on the claim the Chinese businessman, codenamed H6, was a close confidant of Prince Andrew.

Asked about the case which became public on Friday, Sir Keir said: “Of course we are concerned about the challenge that China poses.

“Our approach is one of engagement, of co-operating where we need to co-operate, particularly on issues like climate change.

[We will] challenge where we must and where we should, particularly on issues like human rights and to compete when it comes to trade. That’s the strategic approach that we have set out as a UK Government.”

A minister admitted it is a “concern” that an alleged Chinese spy was able to “slip through the net” to form links at the heart of the British establishment.

The suspect, known only as H6, is said to have become a “close” confidant of the Duke of York and has also been pictured with senior politicians including David Cameron and Theresa May.

MPs could seek to use parliamentary privilege to reveal H6’s identity, but government minister Jim McMahon said the legal protection offered to parliamentarians should be used with caution.

Local government minister Mr McMahon told Times Radio: “It’s a concern for all of us that work in Parliament, that the trust has been breached in the way that it has, and that somebody has been found to slip through the net.

“That clearly is a concern. Whether or not that requires somebody being named in Parliament under parliamentary privilege, I think, is a separate matter.”