Keir Starmer backs national security adviser after China spy trial collapse
The trial against two men accused of spying for China has collapsed, leading to a blame game in parliament. The Tories have accused the government of trying to please Beijing.
Sir Keir Starmer expressed confidence in national security adviser Jonathan Powell after the trial collapse. The prime minister praised Powell's work amid questions about his involvement in the dropped case.
Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, were charged with spying for China but denied the accusations. The trial was abandoned just before it was set to start.
The director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, blamed ministers for not providing evidence to support the claim that China posed a national security threat. This led to accusations of a cover-up by the Tories.
The government blamed the Conservatives for not classifying China as a threat when the charges were brought and for not updating the Official Secrets Act. The US Middle East envoy praised Powell's efforts in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
The dropped trial sparked a political dispute, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the government of collapsing the case to avoid upsetting China. Security minister Dan Jarvis called her accusations baseless. MPs returned to parliament after the party conference recess.
The two accused men were charged with passing sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence agent. The prosecution was based on the law and policy during the alleged offense. The Tories' failure to update the Official Secrets Act hindered the case.
The Tories defined China as a security challenge in 2021 and 2023. Ministers stated that the government's policy did not influence the decision to drop the case. China was acknowledged as a threat to national security, but also seen as an economic opportunity.
The safety of MPs has been questioned, with Commons speaker Lindsey Hoyle expressing disappointment over inadequate protection from foreign interference. MI5 issued guidance warning politicians about being potential targets for foreign intelligence services. Russia, China, and Iran were specifically mentioned as engaging in foreign interference and espionage.