The former Labour minister who received hundreds of thousands of pounds from a Chinese government agent has admitted to Sky News he did discuss policy with her, but insisted she “gained no political advantage for the Chinese state from me”.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Brent North MP Barry Gardiner denied he felt “a fool” following the revelation that Christine Lee has been engaged in “political interference activities”.

But the ex-Labour frontbencher admitted he was “very angry that somebody tried to use me in that way”.

Asked by Sky News chief political correspondent Jon Craig if he ever discussed Labour policy with Ms Lee, Mr Gardiner replied: “No, not in great detail, no.”

And he suggested Ms Lee had received “a very poor investment” from the donations she gave to him, mainly to cover staffing costs in his office.

Mr Gardiner had also been employing her son as his diary manager.

“This is somebody who received awards from the British prime minister,” the Labour MP said of Ms Lee.

MI5 warns Chinese government ‘agent’ has been ‘active’ in UK parliament, MPs told

Boris Johnson: Priti Patel distances herself from Rishi Sunak as she gives full support to PM over party row

Boris Johnson cancels visit after family member tests positive for COVID

“This is somebody who, to all intents and purposes, was operating as a legitimate person in the UK.

“It now is clear, because the security services have this information, that she was acting to try and gain influence.

“I am very clear, and I believe the security services are clear, that she did not manage to do that.

“She gained no political advantage for the Chinese state from me in any way whatsoever.”

Related posts:

Average journey for COVID check in England just 1.9 miles, Test and Trace data suggests Royal Family ‘listening and learning’ as it considers appointing diversity chief Cold snap to hit UK with temperatures set to plunge until Easter UK reports 17 COVID deaths in last 24 hours – as record-breaking vaccination streak ends Three teenagers dead after car crashes into a tree in Rotherham Arena bomber had links to serious crime gang in Manchester, MI5 officer tells inquiry UK records another 36,567 COVID cases – as ‘technical issue’ stalls Wales figures Woman ‘injected with unknown substance in nightclub’ – as two others ‘have drinks spiked’ in city centre Football watchdog needed to fix relationship with fans, says major review Defence secretary saves 500 troops from army cull, as new elite Ranger regiment is announced Britain’s crisps supply crunch has eased – though they’re still hard to find in one in four shops Christian Eriksen set for remarkable Premier League comeback after cardiac arrest at Euros