MI5 has warned that a Chinese government agent has been working in parliament “to subvert the processes”, MPs have been told.

A letter was sent to MPs by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle who said a woman called Christine Lee has been “engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the Chinese Community Party, engaging with members here at parliament”.

He said she has been involved with the now disbanded all-party parliamentary group, Chinese in Britain.

Leading Tory Iain Duncan Smith brought the letter up in the Commons.

He said: “I understand that Mr Speaker has been contacted by MI5 and is now warning members of parliament that there has been an agent of the Chinese government active here in parliament working with a Member of Parliament, obviously to subvert the processes here.

“I say, as a Member of Parliament who has been sanctioned by the Chinese government, that this is a matter of grave concern.”

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