Britain to force registration of foreign government workers in response to Russian and Chinese spy threat

The Times reports that Prime Minister Johnson will unveil new legislation that will make it mandatory for anyone working for a foreign government in the U.K. to register and be prosecuted when Queen Elizabeth II delivers her speech next month. Some analysts say the new law is a response to the threat of spying by the Chinese Communist Party and Russia.

British intelligence warned that under current law, foreign spies are not subject to the law unless they are arrested for obtaining official secrets. The new law will refer to the U.S. foreign agent registration system, which requires anyone who represents the interests of a foreign government, including lobbying, consulting or public relations, to register.