BIRMINGHAM, UK

The UK health minister has confirmed that two potential parliamentary candidates were removed from the list of the ruling Conservative Party after domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned that they could be spying for China.

On Monday, the Times reported that the MI5 warned the two had links to China’s United Front Work Department, a body allegedly tasked with influencing global policy and opinion.

Speaking to the Times Radio, Maria Caulfield, the health minister, said: “Swift action was taken and they were removed from the list. They are not standing for election.”

“It does show that there are other nations always wanting to infiltrate government of all parties. But we have shown that we take that seriously and act swiftly when that intelligence comes forward,” Caulfield said.

Shortly after his appointment as the head of the MI5 in 2020, Ken McCallum said China poses the greatest long-term challenge to the UK.

He said “hostile states” no longer simply steal secrets and spy, but also target Britain’s democracy, economy, and infrastructure.

“If on the other hand the question is which state will be shaping our world across the next decade, presenting big opportunities and big challenges for the UK the answer is China. You might think in terms of the Russian intelligence services providing bursts of bad weather, while China is changing the climate,” McCallum said.