Christine Lee: Suspected Chinese government ‘agent’ at heart of UK parliament has Birmingham links

The woman identified by MI5 as being “knowingly engaged in political interference” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a legal practice in Birmingham.

Christine Lee is the founder of Christine Lee & Co Solicitors which has offices in both London and Birmingham.

In 2014 she was presented with the Birmingham Lawyers Association of the ‘Year 2014 Best Law Firm Award’.

Commons Speaker, Sir. Lindsay Hoyle, MP, sent a letter to all MPs on Thursday afternoon notifying them that Christine Lee had been “engaged in political interference”.

“I should highlight the fact that Lee has facilitated financial donations to serving and aspiring parliamentarians on behalf of foreign nationals based in Hong Kong and China,” he said.

Ms. Lee was presented with the Points of Light Award in 2019 by then Prime Minister, Theresa May, for her work on good relations with China.

It has been reported that Ms. Lee donated £200,000 to Labour MP Barry Gardiner and her son, Daniel Wilkes, was also employed by the MP.

In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, Barry Gardiner said he had been liaising with UK intelligence services on Ms. Lee for “a number of years”.

Mr. Gardiner also confirmed Ms. Lee’s son, Daniel Wilkes, had tendered his resignation on Thursday morning but stressed security services had no evidence that Ms. Lee’s son was aware of her work on behalf of the Chinese government.

“They [UK intelligence services] have always known, and been made fully aware by me, of her engagement with my office and the donations she made to fund researchers in my office in the past,” said Mr. Gardiner.

We have contacted Ms. Lee for comment but have not yet received a response.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.