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Sephiroth 13-01-2022 17:32
Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
This has popped up on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59984380

Quote:
MI5 has issued a rare warning to MPs that a Chinese agent has infiltrated Parliament to interfere in UK politics.

An alert from the security service said Christine Ching Kui Lee "established links" for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with current and aspiring MPs.

She then gave donations to politicians, with funding coming from foreign nationals in China and Hong Kong.

It comes after a "significant, long-running" investigation by MI5, Whitehall sources told the BBC.

One of the MPs funded by Ms Lee was Labour's Barry Gardiner, who received over £420,000 from her in five years.

But Mr Gardiner said he had always made MI5 aware of the donations.
... And what of Barry Gardiner? He was the genial rock solid supporter of that pariah Jeremy Corbyn. I hope he gets skewered by (at least) Beth Rigby.

Damien 13-01-2022 17:39
Re: Chines infiltration of Parliament
 
If you're bribing MPs why would you go after Gardiner of all people?

Sephiroth 13-01-2022 17:42
Re: Chines infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36109265)
If you're bribing MPs why would you go after Gardiner of all people?
Mule? Conduit?

Hugh 13-01-2022 17:47
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Pretty sure this was first reported four years ago in The Times…

Update - yes, it was (4th February 2017)

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...r-mp-65d3c92j8

Sephiroth 13-01-2022 17:55
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36109269)
Pretty sure this was first reported four years ago in The Times…

Update - yes, it was (4th February 2017)

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...r-mp-65d3c92j8

Quote:
Barry Gardiner, shadow international trade secretary, has received more than £180,000 in staff costs from the firm that acts as chief legal adviser to the Chinese embassy.
It appears to be £450K now. Where did that dosh go? To pay her son in Gardiner's office?

Damien 13-01-2022 18:00
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Also electoral campaigning, other staffing and offices costs, I don't like individual MPs getting donations. Their office expenses should be paid for by the Government only.

daveeb 13-01-2022 18:06
Re: Chines infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36109265)
If you're bribing MPs why would you go after Gardiner of all people?

Maybe he's a fan of chinese design expensive wallpaper :shocked:

papa smurf 13-01-2022 19:36
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Christine Lee: Labour MP Barry Gardiner says Chinese agent 'gained no political advantage' from him

https://news.sky.com/story/christine...m-him-12515277

Mr Gardiner received more than £500,000 from Ms Lee over a period of six years. And he revealed he had spoken to her as recently as this week.

and she got nothing in return:eeek:

nomadking 13-01-2022 20:36
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
She then gave donations to politicians, with funding coming from foreign nationals in China and Hong Kong.
IIRC The money from illegal 3rd-party donations has to be paid to the treasury.:D

daveeb 13-01-2022 20:39
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36109316)
Christine Lee: Labour MP Barry Gardiner says Chinese agent 'gained no political advantage' from him

https://news.sky.com/story/christine...m-him-12515277

Mr Gardiner received more than £500,000 from Ms Lee over a period of six years. And he revealed he had spoken to her as recently as this week.

and she got nothing in return:eeek:
She should have dug a bit deeper and donated to the Tory coffers for a well earned peerage.

1andrew1 13-01-2022 20:39
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36109316)
Christine Lee: Labour MP Barry Gardiner says Chinese agent 'gained no political advantage' from him

https://news.sky.com/story/christine...m-him-12515277

Mr Gardiner received more than £500,000 from Ms Lee over a period of six years. And he revealed he had spoken to her as recently as this week.

and she got nothing in return:eeek:
At least if you bought the Prime Minister a few rolls of Coloroll, you would get a Christmas card from him for a couple of years and you would increase your chances of being in the VIP PPE lane. But she doesn't seem to have chosen the most influential of politicians to lavish her/the CCP's generosity upon!

jfman 13-01-2022 21:25
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
If we ever need a dead cat it’s always useful if it’s not a white one.

TheDaddy 13-01-2022 21:39
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36109316)
Christine Lee: Labour MP Barry Gardiner says Chinese agent 'gained no political advantage' from him

https://news.sky.com/story/christine...m-him-12515277

Mr Gardiner received more than £500,000 from Ms Lee over a period of six years. And he revealed he had spoken to her as recently as this week.

and she got nothing in return:eeek:
Even if she did get nothing which is doubtful, he's compromised himself and left himself open to blackmail further down the line, what a scumbag, needs jailing imo

Damien 13-01-2022 21:45
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDaddy (Post 36109338)
Even if she did get nothing which is doubtful, he's compromised himself and left himself open to blackmail further down the line, what a scumbag, needs jailing imo
He won't get jailed. He declared the donations and didn't know she was a spy. Even Ian Duncan Smith was on the BBC asking why MI5 didn't warn him, and other politicians, earlier.

nomadking 13-01-2022 21:58
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Love to know what isn't suspicious about that amount of money to just one MP.

papa smurf 13-01-2022 21:59
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36109344)
Love to know what isn't suspicious about that amount of money to just one MP.
so would i

Hugh 13-01-2022 22:03
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36109344)
Love to know what isn't suspicious about that amount of money to just one MP.
Totally agree…

Quote:
John Redwood -

Since 2013, the Conservative MP for Wokingham earns £48,222 a quarter - or £192,888 a year - for 50 hours a month as Chairman of Investment Committee of Charles Stanley - a wealth management service group.
https://www.itv.com/news/2021-11-10/...-of-parliament

jfman 13-01-2022 22:31
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Not Redwood too. I’d never have suspected him ;)

Sephiroth 13-01-2022 22:56
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36109344)
Love to know what isn't suspicious about that amount of money to just one MP.
I would like to know why Gardiner didn't spot the bleedin' obvious: why would a Chines person give £450K to him and where did that money come from? Bell end doesn't cover it.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:51 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36109357)
Not Redwood too. I’d never have suspected him ;)

JR is a fine MP and all his Conservative voters would agree.

Julian 13-01-2022 22:57
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36109347)
TBF Hugh it does say "Earns"

Do we know how Barry Gardiner "Earned" his wonga ;)

Hugh 13-01-2022 23:09
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
"Earns"

https://c.tenor.com/5kGBGXGq1cMAAAAM...rence-okay.gif

TheDaddy 14-01-2022 00:15
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36109362)
I would like to know why Gardiner didn't spot the bleedin' obvious: why would a Chines person give £450K to him and where did that money come from? Bell end doesn't cover it.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:51 ----------




JR is a fine MP and all his Conservative voters would agree.
That's what I meant when I said

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDaddy (Post 36109338)
Even if she did get nothing which is doubtful, he's compromised himself and left himself open to blackmail further down the line, what a scumbag, needs jailing imo
He's either incompetent or in on it, either way why should we have to suffer him

Carth 14-01-2022 01:15
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
He's pretty lucky isn't he, to get a free £450k from the Chinese . . . while 30 million (and counting) just got bloody Covid :rolleyes:

Chris 14-01-2022 08:05
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Julian (Post 36109366)
TBF Hugh it does say "Earns"

Do we know how Barry Gardiner "Earned" his wonga ;)
If his job was to occasionally show up on the news being patronising and generally wrong about everything, I’d say he’s in line for a performance bonus.

papa smurf 14-01-2022 08:59
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris (Post 36109411)
If his job was to occasionally show up on the news being patronising and generally wrong about everything, I’d say he’s in line for a performance bonus.
The perfect cover for an inside man.

Damien 14-01-2022 09:14
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
The one thing we can take comfort in is that if the CCP's inside man in Western Democracy is Barry Gardiner we might have overrated their threat somewhat.

papa smurf 14-01-2022 09:18
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36109420)
The one thing we can take comfort in is that if the CCP's inside man in Western Democracy is Barry Gardiner we might have overrated their threat somewhat.
I wonder if she gave him any gifts like

bugged pen/bugged picture frame / bugged phone/ bugged this bugged that bugged the other.

Damien 14-01-2022 09:20
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36109362)
I would like to know why Gardiner didn't spot the bleedin' obvious: why would a Chines person give £450K to him and where did that money come from? Bell end doesn't cover it.
He reported the donations to MI5 apparently. Not sure if that's standard practice but if not then he clearly had suspicions in which case bloody stupid to take the donation.

ianch99 14-01-2022 09:22
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris (Post 36109411)
If his job was to occasionally show up on the news being patronising and generally wrong about everything, I’d say he’s in line for a performance bonus.
yes but what about Gardiner? :)

Hugh 14-01-2022 09:23
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36109362)
I would like to know why Gardiner didn't spot the bleedin' obvious: why would a Chines person give £450K to him and where did that money come from? Bell end doesn't cover it.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:51 ----------




JR is a fine MP and all his Conservative voters would agree.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...-took-25123091
Quote:
EXCLUSIVE: Quarter of Boris Johnson's Cabinet took Russia-linked cash as Tories head to Conference

Tory coffers have been swelled by £2 million from donors with Russian links since Boris Johnson became PM - and a quarter of ministers attending cabinet have benefited from cash from just three well-connected sources

tweetiepooh 14-01-2022 09:29
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36109427)
They've found a way to blame Boris!

---------- Post added at 09:29 ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36109424)
He reported the donations to MI5 apparently. Not sure if that's standard practice but if not then he clearly had suspicions in which case bloody stupid to take the donation.
Unless MI5 asked him to "carry on" so they could collect information and do their own counter espionage.

papa smurf 14-01-2022 09:30
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tweetiepooh (Post 36109430)
They've found a way to blame Boris!

---------- Post added at 09:29 ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 ----------


Unless MI5 asked him to "carry on" so they could collect information and do their own counter espionage.
A double agent:shocked: the plot thickens.

Carth 14-01-2022 10:26
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
I'm sure that if he's found to have done anything wrong, a profound and sincere apology will be forthcoming . . . to the Chinese :D

Damien 14-01-2022 11:21
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tweetiepooh (Post 36109430)
Unless MI5 asked him to "carry on" so they could collect information and do their own counter espionage.
Again if Barry Gardiner is MI5's man then we're all screwed.

My theory is that all donations from foreign citizens based in the UK have to be declared for precisely this reason. It's legal to accept donations from UK residents but if they're not citizens then maybe there is an additional level of oversight.

GrimUpNorth 14-01-2022 11:55
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36109450)
Again if Barry Gardiner is MI5's man then we're all screwed.

My theory is that all donations from foreign citizens based in the UK have to be declared for precisely this reason. It's legal to accept donations from UK residents but if they're not citizens then maybe there is an additional level of oversight.
Apparently, he did support Hinkley Point despite the widespread concerns about Chinese involvement.

Maybe the Chinese were hedging their bets and put in a few spies to make sure they had a direct line to enable them to destabilise the government whichever party is in power ;).

nomadking 14-01-2022 12:00
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damien (Post 36109450)
Again if Barry Gardiner is MI5's man then we're all screwed.

My theory is that all donations from foreign citizens based in the UK have to be declared for precisely this reason. It's legal to accept donations from UK residents but if they're not citizens then maybe there is an additional level of oversight.
Not true. Donations from foreign citizens are not allowed. The "loophole" is that UK businesses can donate, even when they have foreign owners.
The key distinctions with this case are that, it was large amount, was mainly to one person, and that the money actually came from elsewhere.
Quote:
Mr Gardiner began getting donations from Ms Lee's law firm, Christine Lee & Co, at the end of 2014.

1andrew1 14-01-2022 12:09
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking (Post 36109463)
... the money actually came from elsewhere.
What does that mean?

Carth 14-01-2022 12:49
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36109466)
What does that mean?
It's big business speak, it may mean a series of untraceable offshore accounts set up by - but not limited to - Governments, drug/arms dealers, gambling companies, The Illuminati, lizard people, owners of top football clubs, dairy farmers, the mafia, ransomware hackers, pension funds, VM retention dept. etc etc :D

nomadking 14-01-2022 12:50
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36109466)
What does that mean?

Quote:
She then gave donations to politicians, with funding coming from foreign nationals in China and Hong Kong.

papa smurf 14-01-2022 13:52
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
i hope this is the end of Beijing Barry's political career.

daveeb 14-01-2022 14:12
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36109475)
It's big business speak, it may mean a series of untraceable offshore accounts set up by - but not limited to - Governments, drug/arms dealers, gambling companies, The Illuminati, lizard people, owners of top football clubs, dairy farmers, the mafia, ransomware hackers, pension funds, VM retention dept. etc etc :D

:D:D the last one had my mouthful of tea over the keyboard.

Sephiroth 14-01-2022 14:35
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36109427)
What's your point? Russian FSB penetration of the government or parliament?

Hugh 14-01-2022 14:53
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36109519)
What's your point? Russian FSB penetration of the government or parliament?
Russian influence over our lawmakers and political parties is just as bad as Chinese - the Chinese haven't poisoned anyone (as far as we know) on our soil.

Carth 14-01-2022 14:57
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36109524)
Russian influence over our lawmakers and political parties is just as bad as Chinese - the Chinese haven't poisoned anyone (as far as we know) on our soil.
Well apart from Covid . . . . accidental or not

Sephiroth 14-01-2022 15:45
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36109475)
It's big business speak, it may mean a series of untraceable offshore accounts set up by - but not limited to - Governments, drug/arms dealers, gambling companies, The Illuminati, lizard people, owners of top football clubs, dairy farmers, the mafia, ransomware hackers, pension funds, VM retention dept. etc etc :D

Oi. Harry Turtledove's convincing account of the lizard people includes hydrogen powered vehicles, wormhole travel and serious weaponry. Oh - and anti-fascist.

Mad Max 14-01-2022 15:45
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 36109504)
i hope this is the end of Beijing Barry's political career.
Is this a Labour Party minister in deep doo-doo, Nah can't be, they're all squeaky clean.:rolleyes:

Paul 14-01-2022 15:47
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Labour politicians taking money from business, what is the world coming to ...... :disturbd:

1andrew1 15-01-2022 18:51
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul (Post 36109548)
Labour politicians taking money from business, what is the world coming to ...... :disturbd:
Think the concern is it's more the Chinese state than a business.

jfman 15-01-2022 20:46
Re: Chinese infiltration of Parliament
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36109722)
Think the concern is it's more the Chinese state than a business.
Well if the capitalists have the Tories in their pockets where else is there for the CCP to go?


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