Status: 01/14/2022 10:57 a.m
She is said to have tried to influence British politics – in the interests of China’s state leadership: the British domestic secret service warns the upper and lower houses of a lawyer who was well connected in the government district.
The British domestic intelligence agency MI5 has warned MPs of a suspected Chinese agent. Lawyer Christine Lee has played an intermediary role in “financial contributions to political parties, MPs, prospective MPs and those contemplating political office in the UK,” the alert said.
The woman builds connections for the Chinese Communist Party and tries to influence British politicians in order to influence the political climate in China’s favour.
Major donation to opposition politicians
Lee is said to have donated £200,000 to British opposition politician Barry Gardiner and a further £100,000 to his Labor Party. The money is said to come from foreign nationals from China and Hong Kong. Gardiner, who has since resigned, said Lee’s son was also an employee and coordinated his schedule.
Probably well connected in parliamentary circles
Christine Lee was well connected in London’s government district: ex-Prime Minister Theresa May honored Lee in 2019 for her contribution to good Chinese-British relations, and Lee was photographed at events with former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn or ex-Prime Minister David Cameron.
She is the founder of a law firm with offices in London and Birmingham. The company register states that she is a British citizen, and her company’s website lists, among other things, her work as a legal counsel for the Chinese embassy.
A spokeswoman for the Chinese Embassy in London rejected the allegations. China basically stays out of foreign affairs and doesn’t need to “buy influence”.
Lee is not allowed to enter Parliament. She has not yet been charged.
Image: AP
So far no basis for an indictment
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said Lee’s activities so far have not been enough to indict her. Nevertheless, the deputies were warned against Lee’s attempts to exert influence. Patel said she was very concerned that people working for the Chinese Communist Party were targeting MPs.
Conservative MP Duncan Smith has expressed concern that Lee remains at large. He could not understand that she was not arrested, but only prevented from entering Parliament. As a consequence of the incident, he called for the parliamentary accreditation to be revised.