Ministers to be forced to name and shame China for cyber attacks on the UK after Government, which doesn’t want to point finger at Beijing, lost Lords battle
The House of Lords has passed an amendment to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill requiring the Government to record foreign states targeting British networks and report the risks to Parliament. If it remains in the legislation, ministers will have to publicly identify hostile states, including China, when they are responsible for cyber-attacks.
The amendment passed by 194 votes to 155, despite Labour peers voting against it. Conservative and Crossbench supporters say greater transparency is needed; the Government has been accused of resisting the measure to preserve relations with Beijing, an allegation it has not addressed in the article. The bill now returns to the House of Commons, while a separate foreign influence registration scheme has publicly listed 20 entities to date, none from China.
In short
- Lords back a register of foreign states targeting UK networks.
- The amendment passed 194 votes to 155.
- MPs will consider the bill next.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that Parliament and the public need a clear account of which foreign states threaten British networks, so the country can understand the risks and scrutinise the Government’s response. Naming responsible states could strengthen accountability and help deter attacks by making attribution and consequences more visible.
The case against
Opponents may argue that mandatory public attribution could constrain ministers’ judgement in a fast-moving security environment, where evidence may be uncertain or disclosure could compromise intelligence sources. They may favour reporting risks to Parliament while retaining discretion over when to identify a state, allowing the Government to manage diplomatic relations and protect security interests.
Explained simply
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill concerns how the UK prepares for and responds to attacks on computer networks and digital services. Such attacks can disrupt public services, businesses or government systems, and may be linked to criminal groups or foreign states.
The Government is responsible for the bill, which must pass through Parliament before becoming law. The House of Lords is the unelected chamber that reviews legislation; the Commons is the elected chamber, and can consider changes made by the Lords.
China is one of the states discussed in debates about cyber security, alongside the wider question of how openly the UK should identify countries it believes are involved in attacks. Those choices can affect public understanding of security risks and the UK’s diplomatic relations with other governments.
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