Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones has called on the Liberal Democrats to publish the “full details of their connections” to China.

In January it was revealed that Christine Ching Kui Lee - who runs Christine Lee & Co Solicitors in London - had donated large sums of money to different political parties and figures from the Chinese Communist Party.

MI5 has since accused Ms Lee of being “involved in political interference in the UK’ and “acting covertly in coordination” with the United front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party.

Among the names who received donations from Ms Lee - who has not been arrested although MPs have been warned about her - include Labour MP Barry Gardiner who allegedly received £600,000, over a six-year-period although the former shadow energy minister has maintained that he was not aware that Ms Lee was alleged spy until it was revealed last month.

Ms Lee also had links with the Conservatives as she appeared to have a good relationship with David Cameron while he was Prime Minister, as well as the Liberal Democrats which she donated £5,000 to in 2005.

Sir Ed Davey’s local Liberal Democrat association of Kingston and Surbiton also received £5,000 from Ms Lee in 2013 while Sir Ed was energy minister - Sir Ed later confirmed he had no knowledge of the donation.

Ms Jones said: “I welcome that the Business Secretary has announced an inquiry into this matter.  We should all be concerned at the level of access that China has but this is a worrying development.  Our country must be protected at all costs from interference by foreign actors and so I am hugely concerned at the allegation that the Liberal Democrats took donations from Chinese operatives – and no questions were asked. 

“It’s crucial now that the Welsh Liberal Democrats make it clear whether any funding from Ms Lee made its way to them.  We know that the current leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats declared almost £80,000 in donations during her time as an MP.  It should be clarified whether any of this funding came from anyone with connections to China.

“The Chinese Communist Party is responsible for upholding a brutal and oppressive regime. The systematic breaching of human rights, especially against the Uighur population, is well documented and continues despite international condemnation. Five Conservative Members of the House of Commons are currently subject to Chinese sanctions after they courageously spoke out against the cruel communist regime and its treatment of the Uighur.

“For the sake of our democracy and the integrity of political system, it is vital that CCP funding is identified and cut off. We all have a duty to be extremely vigilant about the access China gets to the UK.”

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats told The Brecon & Radnor Express that Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds, who is an MS for mid Wales, has “never knowingly nor would” take donations linked to the Chinese Community Party.

The spokesperson also said: “Ed Davey was shocked by these revelations and an email from the Speaker this month was the first time he had been given cause to be concerned about the donation to Kingston and Surbiton local party association that was received in 2013.

“The Government must make it a national security priority to protect the UK’s democracy from threats and interference by foreign actors.

“The donation to the local party was reported properly and all rules and guidance were followed. Intelligence services had not informed Parliament of their concerns over Christine Lee until this month.”