‘Chinese spy’ at heart of Prince Andrew scandal named

An alleged Chinese spy banned from the UK and linked to the Duke of York can now be named as Yang Tengbo, a High Court judge has ruled.

The 50-year-old director of a Chinese investment consultancy firm was barred from the UK in 2023 after it was deemed he would likely threaten national security.

A High Court judge has now lifted an anonymity order so he can now be identified.

Mr Yang was found with letters addressed to Beijing’s United Front Work Department - a shadowy arm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tasked with gaining influence over foreign officials - after he was detained in 2019.

The suspect is said to have become a “close” confidant of the Duke of York and has also been pictured with senior politicians including Lord David Cameron and Baroness Theresa May.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer defended his approach of engaging with Xi Jinping’s government despite concerns over security and human rights abuses.

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