MI5 issued an alert identifying lawyer Christine Lee as a suspected Chinese agent involved in political interference activities, allegedly to divert attention from Boris Johnson's Partygate scandal. Barry Gardiner, a Labour MP, suggested the alert was meant to distract from the scandal, claiming it led to his downfall. Lee, who denies the allegations and is suing MI5, donated over £500,000 to Gardiner, who received the funds from foreign nationals. The alert, considered unlawful by Lee's legal team, resulted in threats, forcing her into hiding with changed appearance. The Security Service's actions are under scrutiny for potential political motivations and collateral damage caused by the alert.