Stockport MP Lisa Smart has issued a stark warning about the vulnerability of British democracy to foreign interference, cyber attacks, and opaque political funding. In a recent column, she highlighted that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte earlier this year described the current global situation as 'not at war, but certainly not at peace either.'
Espionage and Cyber Threats on the Rise
Smart, a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, stated that interactions with military personnel have convinced her that 'as a society, we are not scared enough and we are certainly not prepared enough.' She pointed to numerous incidents of foreign espionage and interference since the current government took office, including Chinese spies using LinkedIn to target UK officials and military staff, a tracker placed on the Prime Minister's car, and attacks on the Prime Minister's home and vehicle. Additionally, people with links to a sitting MP were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence agency.
Critical Infrastructure Under Attack
The National Cyber Security Centre dealt with more than 200 attacks on critical national infrastructure in the past year alone, with around three-quarters traced to hostile states, primarily China, Russia, and Iran. Smart emphasized the need to protect hospitals, energy supply, and public services by reducing reliance on foreign technology. She has pushed the government to adopt a Digital Security Strategy to strengthen procurement and spend money with UK companies on high-quality UK technology.
Foreign Money in Politics
Smart also warned about the threat of opaque, foreign, and dark money flowing into British politics through political parties, campaigns, and online conversations. She acknowledged that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has taken some steps in the right direction but said loopholes remain. 'We must protect our democracy – to strengthen our Government, and our country,' she concluded.
