Johnson questioned over lack of security minister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticised over ‘failing to appoint’ a new security minister, after James Brokenshire announced his resignation on 7 July

The vacancy has come to light following the arrest of a British man in Berlin accused of spying for Russia, which Labour says is collateral damage for the delay.

Labour’s Shadow Security Minister Conor McGinn said that the episode ‘is just the latest security lapse from a prime minister and government that can’t be trusted with national security’.

German prosecutors said an employee at the British embassy in Berlin was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. The man, a 57-year-old British national named only as David S, was detained on 10 August and will appear before a judge on 11 August.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Home Secretary, said the allegations potentially amounted to a ‘serious breach of UK national security’.

He said: “All measures must now be taken – urgently – to establish exactly what information has been passed to Russian intelligence and the impact this has on the UK, as well as that of our allies. This is yet another example of the real threat posed by Russia, so it is unacceptable that Conservative ministers have been so slow to enact the measures necessary to protect the UK, including implementing the recommendations of the Russia report.”