First Minister refuses to answer as China arrests linked to Welsh Labour figures
First Minister Eluned Morgan has refused to say when she became aware that three men with links to Welsh Labour and the Welsh Government had been arrested on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services, telling the Senedd she will not comment on a live investigation.
Ms Morgan was pressed three times by Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar at First Minister’s questions after the men were arrested last week and bailed until May as part of a counter-terrorism investigation.
She did not answer his questions about vetting arrangements, her own awareness of the security concerns, or what meetings had taken place at the Welsh Government’s three offices in mainland China.
“I just want to be clear: I don’t know. I don’t know the details of this investigation,” she said.
The three men arrested were David Taylor, 39, a former Wales Office adviser and husband of East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid, who was arrested in London; Matthew Aplin, 43, a former Labour press officer, arrested in Pontyclun, south Wales; and Steve Jones, 68, a former Welsh Government adviser, arrested in Powys. All three have been bailed until May, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
The men were released on bail without charge
Mr Millar told the Senedd that all three had previously worked in political roles connected to the Welsh Labour Party or the Welsh Government, and that all three appear to have been connected to Bute Energy.
“Many of us were shocked last week to learn that three men had been arrested on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence services,” Mr Millar said.
He told Ms Morgan he was not asking her to compromise the police investigation, but to account for vetting procedures for people with access to privileged government information.
“People have a right to know what action the Welsh Government is taking to ensure that those they employ are loyal to our country and do not pose a security threat,” he said.
He also raised the Welsh Government’s three offices in mainland China, asking what meetings had taken place there over the past five years, and pointed to Welsh Government relationships with Vietnam following reports of social media content farms exposed for spreading AI-generated disinformation.
Ms Morgan declined to answer each question in turn, saying it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of a live case.
“I think it’s got to be made absolutely clear that this is a live investigation. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any detail affecting this issue,” she said.
After a third round of questioning, Mr Millar said he found it “absolutely outrageous” that the First Minister appeared unable to confirm what she had done since the arrests were announced.
Ms Morgan acknowledged the broader security picture but did not go further. “We do face threats from foreign Governments, with hostile state activity being undertaken on British soil. It’s clear that Wales is not immune from these risks,” she said.
She told the Senedd the Welsh Government would provide any support requested by police but made no commitment to review vetting arrangements or international partnerships.
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