MP accepted donations from Chinese spy

A LabourMP accepted more than £425,000 (NZ$850,000) in donations from a Chinese spy, it emerged yesterday, prompting demands for an urgent probe into her links with Westminster. MI5 issued an interference alert toMPs about the activities of Christine Lee, a Chinese national who has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to Barry Gardiner, a former shadowcabinet minister. She first began making financial contributions to British politicians 17 years ago. The Electoral Commission vowed to ‘‘undertake further checks’’ on the permissibility of the payments by Lee, through her lawfirm Christine Lee & Co, toMPs and local parties. The regulator told The Telegraph that it would consider enforcement action if evidence emerged of breaches to political finance rules.