Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 has issued a rare warning to MPs that a Chinese agent has infiltrated Parliament to interfere in British politics. That BBC reports.
GVsource: BELGA
According to the security agency’s warning, Christine Ching-Kui Lee has established “relationships” with current and potential CCP deputies. She also made donations to politicians, funded by foreigners in China and Hong Kong.
Conservative MP Ian Duncan Smith, an outspoken critic of the Chinese regime, said House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle had been contacted by MI5. “He is warning lawmakers that a Chinese government proxy is active in Parliament,” Duncan Smith told colleagues.
Donations
The MI5 report, which was reported by British media, stated that it “consciously interfered in political activities on behalf of the Ministry of Labor of the United Front of the Communist Party of China”. According to the same source, Lee acted as a facilitator for “financial donations to political parties, MPs, MPs and people contemplating political office in the UK” on behalf of foreign nationals residing in China or Hong Kong.
Kristen Lee is said to have paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to Barry Gardiner, a former Labor executive, but also to Labour. She was also pictured with former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron at an event in 2015, and at another event with former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.
prize
In 2019, Christine Lee was honored by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May in recognition of her contribution to good relations with China. Barry Gardiner confirmed in a statement that all donations were duly reported and said Kristen Lee’s son worked with him until his resignation on Thursday.
Ian Duncan Smith expressed concern that Lee would not be arrested, but was only prevented from entering Parliament. He also called for a review of the rules for parliamentary accreditation. Duncan Smith is one of several British figures that Beijing has criticized for criticizing the treatment of Uyghurs.
