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Original poster

Is no one concerned about the Chinese agent who infiltrated parliament?

60 replies

Whattochoosenow · 13/01/2022 22:57

Everyone is so concerned about Boris and his parties, yet meanwhile we have news of a Chinese agent who infiltrated parliament to establish links for the CCP, and who donated nearly half a million pounds to MP Barry Gardiner. It’s barely even making headlines but this is potentially a huge national security breach.

MI5 warning over 'Chinese agent' in Parliament www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59984380

OP posts:
noworklifebalance · 13/01/2022 23:01

Maybe I watch too many of these types of box sets but I suspect this happens a lot and we have people inside other governments.
Releasing the news to the press was intentional, tactical & political - to what end, I don’t know but I will leave to those in the know to worry about.

Suzanne999 · 13/01/2022 23:04

I’m afraid with the idiots we have in Parliament nothing surprises me. They have no scruples whatsoever and a Chinese citizen turning up with nearly half a million pounds , well you wouldn’t be suspicious of that would you? I don’t know where they keep their brains, but it’s not in their heads.

NumberTheory · 13/01/2022 23:08

Barry Gardiner seems to have kept MI5 informed throughout his association with Christine Lee and, according to the article you've linked, the funding she's provided isn't improper.

I do think Parliamentary members and political parties should not be allowed to receive funds from non-citizens. But I'm not clear why Christine Lee's donations are more improper than any other non-citizen's.

There seems to be little explanation of what improper interference consists of.

KnobJockey · 13/01/2022 23:12

How convenient that this agent infiltrated government on the same day that Johnson wanted to go into hiding and have people forget about him

Original poster
Whattochoosenow · 13/01/2022 23:13

It’s a lot of money to give one man. And what was it actually for? Donation for what?

OP posts:
namechange30455 · 13/01/2022 23:15

It was the 2nd item on BBC news at 10 tonight, Boris was 3rd or 4th

pastabest · 13/01/2022 23:21

No.

I don't think she was any kind of a major player, and the fact she got found out suggests she wasn't doing that good a job. The money was drip fed in over several years rather than as a lump sum.

Its perhaps not making more news because Barry Gardiner has fully co-operated with the authorities, has engaged well with the news cycle on it and has been extremely frank about what he did and didn't know.

I listened to an interview he did tonight on LBC and he sounded proper gutted, it sounds like he considered her a friend, feels utterly betrayed by recent information, has acted properly when he became aware and is confident that despite what she was allegedly attempting to do it wasn't successful and that her/ Chinese investment into him as a project will have been very poor value for money for them.

SparklyLeprechaun · 13/01/2022 23:24

Not that interested tbh, international espionage happens. A lot. I find the dodgy dealings of trading influence much more newsworthy (see the PPE contracts, for example).

pastabest · 13/01/2022 23:28

@Whattochoosenow

It’s a lot of money to give one man. And what was it actually for? Donation for what?
I think that's a bit naïve.

Individual MPs get lots of donations, these ones were over several years rather than a lump sum and Christine Lee at the time was considered to be a regarded and reputable business woman and public servant with an interest in improving the engagement of people living in the UK with Chinese heritage in local politics. She was given an award by May and also had interests in the Lib Dems.

She won't be the only one by a million miles.

mumda · 13/01/2022 23:28

Bread and circuses.

Are you suitably distracted by a party?

onewednesdayindecember · 13/01/2022 23:33

I don’t know too many details about it, but I think it did feature on all the main news programmes this evening.

BasketBlocks · 13/01/2022 23:34

Barely making headlines? It’s been the first or second story on every major news bulletin.

Likkleredridinghood · 13/01/2022 23:36

He has released a full and frank statement, MI5 fully informed right from the start. Whereas the money the tories have received from russian donors is not so easily explained, holidays, entry to the HoLs. Recently there was a C4 programme all about it and it's trail was not as transparent.

CalIie · 13/01/2022 23:40

I honestly could t give two hoots about the party stuff.

But I am very concerned about the infiltration of our parliament by foreign agents. It goes much, much deeper than this one individual.

The party stories are far more entertaining for the Lobby though.

Tealightsandd · 13/01/2022 23:41

@mumda

Bread and circuses.

Are you suitably distracted by a party?

Lots of people, media included, seem to be.

Meanwhile, Manchester looks to be following London wrt overwhelmed hospitals in requiring military help.

Oh but it's ok. Cases in the UK are falling...as they would with a test shortage...

WhatScratch · 13/01/2022 23:44

China got screwed there. Our politicians can be bought for much less.

Tealightsandd · 13/01/2022 23:52

People sometimes slag off donkeys (by comparing them to governments).

Lions are lovely, but actually so are donkeys. And I think we'd do far better with actual donkeys in charge than many of the humans we have.

Donkeys are strong but gentle, hardworking, loyal, and kind.

NumberTheory · 13/01/2022 23:53

@Whattochoosenow

It’s a lot of money to give one man. And what was it actually for? Donation for what?
It is a lot of money for one MP, very few MPs get close to this sort of financial support. In the 2017-2019 parliament Barry received more money than anyone else except Johnson (see datalobo.com/mp-donations/)

It does say in the article you linked that the majority of the money was to pay for parliamentary researchers, which could have supported a lot of different efforts with parliament. It hasn't obviously been used in a way that's negative for the UK.

But it is a lot of money, it doesn't sound like Barry and the Lib Dems are the only recipients, and that is concerning.

Tealightsandd · 13/01/2022 23:55

Wonder why Barry in particular got so much? Half a million.

Delphigirl · 13/01/2022 23:57

Boris put the son of a kgb agent in the House of Lords. Nothing surprises me.

pastabest · 13/01/2022 23:59

It is a lot of money for one MP, very few MPs get close to this sort of financial support. In the 2017-2019 parliament Barry received more money than anyone else except Johnson (see datalobo.com/mp-donations)

and I suspect it is precisely this that has drawn her to the attention of MI5. So she's done quite a poor job of it. There will be many others (from all sorts of different states not just China) quietly playing the game and keeping their noses mostly clean.

pastabest · 14/01/2022 00:03

@Tealightsandd

Wonder why Barry in particular got so much? Half a million.
Most likely his role as shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change and the Chinese interest in Hinkley Point and his potential influence in that.
NumberTheory · 14/01/2022 00:05

@pastabest

*It is a lot of money for one MP, very few MPs get close to this sort of financial support. In the 2017-2019 parliament Barry received more money than anyone else except Johnson (see datalobo.com/mp-donations)*

and I suspect it is precisely this that has drawn her to the attention of MI5. So she's done quite a poor job of it. There will be many others (from all sorts of different states not just China) quietly playing the game and keeping their noses mostly clean.

She's had MI5s attention for years as is clear from the fact Barry says he's been reporting his contacts with her to them for years. And they will be keeping tabs on lots of other agents too.

But according to the BBC article MI5 have made an announcement now as a way to hinder her growing influence, so they appear to see her as a more formidable threat for parliamentary interference than most others.

Tealightsandd · 14/01/2022 00:36

Thanks pastabest That explains it then.

Neurodiversitysucks · 14/01/2022 00:43

If the BBC told you the tooth fairy had decided to become a mp would you all believe that too? Can't believe how many of you are falling for this. Perfect distraction to Boris and his antics