A Chinese tracking device was discovered in the Prime Minister’s official car, MPs have been told.
The bug is believed to have been found in a sealed part of the vehicle imported from China.
Its discovery during a sweep first emerged in 2023, sparking fears that Beijing was aggressively spying on ministers in the then-Conservative government.
Now it has been claimed that the device was in fact found in the Prime Minister’s car the previous year.
Charles Parton, of think-tank the Council on Geostrategy, told the Commons Business and Trade Committee yesterday: ‘The prime minister’s car in 2022 was emanating data to China through the cellular module.’
This device is thought to have allowed it to communicate to others over mobile networks.
It is not clear which of the three Tory prime ministers that year – Boris Johnson, Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak – was being targeted.
Questioned by MPs about this, Mr Parton – who served as a diplomat for almost 40 years, including more than 20 in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan – added: ‘A very senior member of the government who certainly knows whose car it was told me.’
A Chinese tracking device was discovered in the Prime Minister’s official car. Pictured: Xi Jinping meeting Sir Keir Starmer in January
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives to Downing Street in the official car
The part of the car containing the geolocating device had been installed by the vehicle’s manufacturer, reports at the time said.
Mr Parton’s claim came during a discussion about cellular modules, which he warned are ‘in everything’ including planes, cars and even smart doorbells.
‘The Chinese aim to get a monopoly in the manufacture of cellular modules, and they’re doing pretty well at that already,’ he told MPs.
‘If the Chinese wish to shut off all your vehicles, because they’ve all got cellular modules, it wouldn’t be difficult.’
A source said officials didn’t recognise the claim about the PM’s car.
A government spokesman said: ‘As a matter of longstanding policy we would never comment on security matters.’
Security officials were said to have dismantled government vehicles used by ministers and diplomats while looking for tracking devices.
Electronic vehicle parts are said to be embedded with Sim cards before being sent to manufacturers as sealed units, with these capable of sending data back to state-owned suppliers in China.
When the bug was discovered, Beijing dismissed the revelations as ‘groundless and sheer rumour’, adding: ‘We are firmly opposed to political manipulation on normal economic and trade co-operation or any smear on Chinese enterprises.’
It is understood the Prime Minister’s car is run by the Metropolitan Police.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on matters of protective security.’
