MP’s Aide Flags Suspected China LinkedIn Approach

A Westminster staffer reported a suspicious LinkedIn message from a profile linked to China

sarah

Nov 19, 2025 - 19:51

MP’s Aide Flags Suspected China LinkedIn Approach

When MPs, members of the House of Lords, and their staff were warned about the threat of Chinese spies in a Westminster office, a swift investigation was launched.

Simon Whelband is a Conservative councillor and also works for Conservative MP Neil O'Brien, who was banned by China in 2021.

Simon looked at his LinkedIn messages and found this message. A few weeks ago, a message had been sent from an account named Shirley Shen.

He did not respond to this unsolicited message and reported it to Parliament's security services. He was then advised to block the account.

The note seems harmless enough.

He said: "The message was written in poor English, stating that there was a job opportunity and asked if I was interested, and to get in touch if I was."

"I've worked in Parliament for almost 10 years, so I'm used to it.

"But if you were even more junior, you wouldn't know what you're looking for.

"You might think the offer you're given on LinkedIn is genuine, and they might even accept it."

Whelband added that he believes China's targeting of those working in Parliament is becoming more common.

"They've realized that the way to reach MPs is through their staff... This is extremely worrying," he said.

And so, for the second time this autumn, Westminster is collectively considering what to do about China.

The growing influence of this giant superpower, along with the growth of the internet, is one of the two major global changes of the last 30 years.

Some of the most serious challenges—or threats—from Beijing come when these two major trends of the early 21st century converge.

Senior figures in the government are concerned, but express their concerns cautiously in public. MPs outside the government are more willing to speak bluntly.

Tuesday's debate in the Commons on this issue was an eye-opener. Security Minister Dan Jarvis was cautious in his language, yet also warmly and readily acknowledged the diverse concerns expressed by MPs from different parties.

Some of them include:

Concerns that buses manufactured in China but plying British roads may be fitted with a so-called "kill switch" that allows anyone in China to disable the bus by pressing a button—which could lead to chaos.

Concerns that vehicles used by the military, also manufactured in China, may be equipped with mobile listening devices—to the point that military officers have been warned to be careful about what they say while on board, lest China be listening.

There is deep concern over China's request for planning permission for a massive new embassy in central London, which critics say will be a spying hub and is located too close to sensitive data cables serving the City of London.

Last month, Parliament was considering the collapse of a court case involving two people accused of spying for China, one of whom worked in Westminster. Both have always denied any wrongdoing.

The warning is now extended to all MPs and members of the House of Lords. According to information received from the security service MI5, they could be Beijing's next targets.

It said it had identified two LinkedIn profiles used by Chinese security services as "citizen recruitment headhunters" who target individuals working in British politics to obtain "insider information."

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the Commons, and his counterpart in the House of Lords, Lord McFall, issued the warning to MPs and other members on Tuesday.

The alert specifically identified two LinkedIn profiles created under the names Amanda Qiu and Shirley Shen.