An expert has warned Beijing "knows a lot" about the new PM, saying it is likely Chinese spies have been "tracking him for years".

16:24, Sat, Jul 25, 2026 Updated: 16:24, Sat, Jul 25, 2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday (Image: Getty)

Andy Burnham has been warned China's web of top-secret spies have likely been tracking him for “years”. Intelligence analyst and cybersecurity expert Ryan McBeth said Beijing is also probably aware of those closest to the new Prime Minister.

There have been long-standing concerns over the risk Chinese espionage poses to the UK. Anne Keast-Butler, head of the intelligence agency GCHQ, in May described China as a “science and tech superpower”, warning it has “sophisticated capabilities across their intelligence, cyber and military agencies”. Mr McBeth’s comments come amid reports Iran has been caught sending suspected covert operatives across the English Channel into the UK on small boats.

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Andy Burnham

China 'knows a lot' about Andy Burnham, said intelligence and cybersecurity expert Ryan McBe (Image: Ryan Jenkinson/PA Wire)

The expert said it is “almost certain” Beijing has developed a profile on not only Mr Burnham, but his “inner circle”, too.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “China knows a lot about your Prime Minister. They have likely been tracking him for years.

“They most likely have courses of action for him that they know what he is going to do, perhaps even before he knows he’s going to do it.”

Mr Burnham got the keys to Number 10 on Monday after successfully becoming Labour leader at a third attempt.

He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2001, has long been a high-profile politician.

Mr Burnham was a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2010, before taking up a shadow ministerial role in opposition after Labour lost power.

After leaving Westminster in 2017, he successfully ran for the office of Mayor of Greater Manchester and was re-elected in both 2021 and 2024.

Mr McBeth said while Chinese spies could have been keeping tabs on those closest to Mr Burnham, this likely did not extend to his wider family.

He told The Sun: “Tracking his inner circle either through intelligence means or intelligence collection with human intelligence, getting to know people in his inner circle, or getting to know people who are ancillary to his inner circle could all be done.

“And they’re almost certainly using electronic means such as evaluating social media posts.”