COLD WAR “China spy” hysteria was ratcheted up again as a lawyer accused of working for the Chinese government lost a legal challenge against MI5.

Christine Lee had her claim — that the security service had acted against her in the interests of the then-governing Tory Party — dismissed by judges at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

MI5 warned MPs in 2022 that Ms Lee was engaging in political interference on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

She countered that the spooks had acted to help the government, then immersed in the pandemic “partygate” scandal.

But the trio of judges ruled that MI5 had issued the warning for “legitimate reasons,” even though Ms Lee strongly denied the allegations against her and no evidence has been produced in support of them.

Lord Justice Singh dismissed the case brought on behalf of Ms Lee and her son, writing that the warning issued against her did not amount to “inhumane or degrading treatment.”

The judge added that although there was no finding that Ms Lee had engaged in criminal activity or misconduct, MI5 was simply discharging its “national security functions.”

Ms Lee had donated substantial sums to Labour MP Barry Gardiner, who then led the Chinese in Britain all-party parliamentary group.  The security service alleged that this was done in collusion with the CPC’s United Front Work Department.

Ms Lee said she lobbied MPs on behalf of British Chinese nationals and to build trade links and that any donations to MPs were in line with parliamentary rules.