Major Parliament spy scandal as suspected Chinese agent Christine Lee caught targeting Westminster

LONDON: WESTMINSTER has been rocked by a major spying scandal after MI5 accused a Labour donor of being a suspected Chinese agent targeting MPs.

Chinese national Christine Lee is accused of trying to influence Labour MP and Jeremy Corbyn ally Barry Gardiner, as well as a host of others.

The Security Services issued an alert and picture of Lee today and accused her of "facilitating financial donations to serving and aspiring politicians."

She has been a long-time funder of Labour MP Barry Gardiner’s office through her law firm Christine Lee & Co, which also works for the Chinese Embassy in London.

Since 2005, Ms Lee has donated £675,586.88 to either Mr Gardiner's office or the Labour Party.

Donations began in September 2015, soon after Brent North MP's Mr Gardiner became shadow minister for energy.

They included £182,284 that pays the wages of two of Mr Gardiner’s Westminster aides — one of whom is Christine Lee’s son, Daniel Wilkes.

In a statement, Mr Gardiner said Ms Lee's son resigned "earlier today" and had no knowledge of his mother's activities, according to the security services.

Ms Lee has previously rubbed shoulders with Mr Corbyn, PM David Cameron and even received a Points of Light Award from Theresa May.

But a bombshell warning sent to MPs and Peers by the security services today warns Ms Lee has been attempting to influence politicians from across the political divide.

The Interference Alert issued MI5 said she had been “engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, engaging with Members here at Parliament and associated political entities.”