Starmer defends China policy despite concerns over challenge posed by Beijing

Sir Keir Starmer admitted he was “concerned about the challenge that China poses” after an alleged spy, who remains anonymous, 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.

The Prime Minister defended his approach of engaging with Xi Jinping’s government despite concerns over security and human rights abuses, but a senior Tory claimed the UK was now viewed as the “soft underbelly” of a key intelligence alliance because of Sir Keir’s approach to China.

Speaking during a visit to Norway, Sir Keir would not comment on any conversations he may have had with the royal family over the H6 case.

But he said: “Of course we are concerned about the challenge that China poses.”

In November Sir Keir became the first British prime minister since 2018 to meet the Chinese president.

Sir Keir said: “Our approach is one of engagement, of co-operating where we need to co-operate, particularly 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.

“That’s the strategic approach that we have set out as a UK Government.”

Spy remains anonymous

The alleged Chinese spy linked to the Duke of York remains anonymous under a High Court order, amid some MPs calling for him to be named.

The businessman, only known as H6, is banned from the UK and was described by judges as having formed an “unusual degree” of trust with Andrew.

H6 challenged his ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in July, but lost his appeal last week.

The Chinese national, 50, had been due to be named after an anonymity order made in May 2023 was lifted by judges at the specialist tribunal.

However, the day before the judgment was due to be published, H6 made a successful bid at the High Court for a temporary block on being named.

The hearing on December 11, listed before Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Chamberlain, was held in private.

This means H6’s anonymity must be maintained until a further hearing at the High Court, or the end of any challenges at the Court of Appeal.

Contempt of Court

According to a court order published earlier this month, naming or otherwise identifying H6 in connection with the SIAC case is barred under section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act.

A breach of this could typically be considered as contempt of court, which can be punished with up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine.

However, MPs could seek to use parliamentary privilege – which gives MPs certain legal immunities over what they say in the Commons – to reveal H6’s identity.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said his party was prepared to name the alleged spy in the chamber, while Labour MP Graham Stringer also told the Mail on Sunday it was “ludicrous for this person to remain anonymous in the country he was allegedly spying on”.

Worries

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp previously told LBC he was “extremely worried” about the case and that the court order protecting the man’s identity should be lifted so that “justice can be seen to be done”.

H6 was first excluded from Britain by then-home secretary Suella Braverman in 2023, when the Home Office said he was believed to have carried out “covert and deceptive activity” for the Chinese Communist Party.

Judges at SIAC ruled Mrs Braverman had been “entitled to conclude” that he “represented a risk to the national security” after he launched an appeal against the decision.

Andrew “ceased all contact” with H6 when concerns were first raised about him, met him through “official channels” with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”, a statement from his office said.