MI5 raised the alarm after a suspected Communist agent, Christine Fang tried to influence Labour MP Barry Gardiner among other government officials at the heart of Westminster
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A suspected communist agent from China is believed to have used 'sex and cash' to influence British MPs.
MI5 raised the alarm after Chinese national, Christine Fang was accused of trying to influence several Western officials including Labour MP Barry Gardiner.
She is accused of "facilitating financial donations to serving and aspiring politicians" including paying £675,586.88 to either Mr Gardiner's office or the Labour Party.
Authorities have warned 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".
The same woman appeared in reports from the US in December after she 'cosied up to politicians' and allegedly slept with them to gain proximity to political power.
Professor Anthony Glees, from the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, has warned that the latest revelations about the woman must be a "big wake-up call" for the UK.
He told The Sun that Beijing uses cash and sex to lure in unwitting officials in Western countries to gain "information and influence" and they will use money, lavish trips to China or even sexual "honey traps" to get what they want.
He told the newspaper: "What the Chinese want are two things: first, information, secret if possible, but any information to which those in privileged positions might have access denied to ordinary folk."
"Second, they want to influence. They know we are now far more anxious about President Xi and his ambitions which are indeed very worrying.
"So people who might speak up for Xi and China are hotly desired."
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MPs have also issued warnings about the threat from China following the reports as chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugendhat MP tweeted: "Our security services are rightly focussed on state threats the UK.
"It is clear that the challenge from Beijing is increasing and we need to defend our democracy against hostile activity."
Tobias Ellwood MP, chair of the defence select committee, added: "This is the sort of grey zone interference we have come to expect from China."
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