On Thursday, the UK Security Service warned MI5 that an agent of the Chinese government was working to “disrupt the process” in the British Parliament.
House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle emailed lawmakers that a woman, Christine Lee, was “involved in political interventions involving members of parliament, on behalf of the Communist Party of China.”
The warning from MI5 describes the party’s attempt to “secretly interfere in UK politics, establish contacts with MPs and develop relationships with influential people”, The Guardian advances.
Minutes after the notice was sent, the issue was discussed in the House of Commons, with MPs Ian Duncan Smith and Tobias Elwood requesting urgent information from the government.
“The main issue I understand here is that Mr. [Lindsay Hoyle] Contacted by MI5, now a Chinese government agent in parliament is warning lawmakers that he is active, “Smith said.
It should be noted that interference warnings are rarely issued after conversations between intelligence agencies and parliamentary officials. According to the British newspaper, a warning about China was never issued, only related to Russia.
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