Man’s arrest led Rishi Sunak to confront Chinese premier over interference in UK democracy

A parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China has insisted he is “completely innocent”.

The man said he had spent his career highlighting the “challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist party”. The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to Rishi Sunak confronting the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, at the G20 summit on Sunday over what he described as an “unacceptable” interference in democracy.