UK minister Patel wants China on security risk list

Britain’s shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel on Sunday called for China to be placed high up on the list of countries that pose a national security risk to the UK.

The 52-year-old Indian-origin frontline member of the Opposition Conservative Party led by Kemi Badenoch pointed with concern to the recent scandal engulfing an alleged Chinese spy gaining access to Buckingham Palace circles through Prince Andrew — the younger brother of King Charles III.

She attacked the Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Cabinet for prioritising trade ties with China over national security.

“It’s clearly complicated legislation, but China should always be up there,” Priti Patel told ‘The Sunday Times’ in an interview when asked if China should be placed on a proposed Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. The list is designed to compel all those working for overseas powers to declare their lobbying to avert any security risks.

“We’re dealing with an extraordinary regime that for over a decade, quite frankly, has had all sorts of incursions in our country through national security, intellectual property, right down to cyber activity and misinformation. During the COVID period, misinformation, disinformation, were absolutely significant. And then, of course, spies,” she said.