PM’S agent register to help stop espionage

Britain plans to force those working for foreign governments to sign a central register in a bid to counter hostile spy activity, the Home Office has confirmed.

Boris Johnson is looking to formally announce the proposal in the Queen’s Speech next month, making it a criminal offence not to declare work in the UK on behalf of a foreign government.

The foreign agent registration scheme is part of the prime minister’s ambitions to strengthen powers to evict and prosecute spies operating in Britain for hostile states such as Russia and China.

The scheme follows the consideration of similar concepts by allies such as Australia and the US.

The move is understood to be a follow-through on the UK Government’s response to the Intelligence and Security Committee’s (ISC) report last year into allegations of Russian interference in British politics.