Tory MPs are pushing for a tougher response to China due to the rise of cyber attacks from Chinese hackers.

This comes following confirmation from security services that hackers backed by Beijing conducted a cyber-attack on the UK's elections watchdog, carrying out surveillance on UK politicians.

The Chinese ambassador is to be called upon to account for his nation's alleged actions, which include accessing the personal information of approximately 40 million voters, as held by the Electoral Commission.

The National Cyber Security Centre, a branch of GCHQ, discovered that four UK parliament members, known for their criticism of Beijing, were the focus of a distinct cyber-attack.

The UK has now imposed sanctions on two individuals and a front company connected to the cyber-espionage group APT31, which has ties to the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, informed MPs that despite Beijing's efforts to interfere with UK democracy and politics, they were unsuccessful, stating that the government had strengthened its cyber defences following the attacks.

Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “We will not hesitate to take swift and robust actions wherever the Chinese government threatens the United Kingdom’s interests,” he said. “The UK judges that these actions demonstrate a clear and persistent pattern of behaviour that signals hostile intent from China.”

Andy Ward, VP International for Absolute Software, commented: “With the UK’s election watchdog being targeted by Beijing-backed hackers, a critical strategy is needed to toughen cyber resilience against nation-state attacks. Adopting a culture of resilience that integrates cybersecurity is a fundamental part of the Minister's role, to protect the access to personal details of UK voters.”

“As the UK faces an increase in cyber threats, we must aim to boost cybersecurity through threat protection, attack deterrence, and defence preparation, ensuring clear visibility and effective network control. Addressing cybersecurity challenges requires a resilient framework to enhance network oversight and establish a strong defensive posture."

Cyber expert Suid Adeyanju, CEO, RiverSafe commented: "In light of the recent cyber-attacks by Beijing-backed hackers, is it imperative that MPs are advocating for a tougher stance against Nation-state attacks. These attacks show no sign of slowing down, and are leaving UK voters vulnerable to access to personal details. This leads to an urgent call for a comprehensive strategy against cyber threats by Ministers, ensuring data is firmly secured.”