Parliament vulnerable to ‘foreign actors’ after China spying charges dropped, Commons speaker says

Hoyle said: ‘We must pursue all avenues to ensure the protection of members and people that work within the House of Commons.’ Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The UK parliament has been left vulnerable to “foreign actors” after charges against two men suspected of spying for China were dropped, the speaker of the House of Commons has warned.

Speaking to the Times, Lindsay Hoyle said the decision to drop the charges effectively gave Beijing “licence to operate” within parliament.