Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
The Tories hit out at Sir Keir Starmer after he published the evidence submitted by the Government in the China spy case. Kemi Badenoch’s party said the publication of witness statements “falls short” of what they had requested and urged the “China files” to be published in full.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “It is disappointing that it has taken significant pressure from Kemi Badenoch and the Conservative team to force this weak Prime Minister to publish this limited information – which falls short of what was requested.
“What has already been published shows the extent of the threat that China poses to the UK, and makes it all the more shocking that the Prime Minister knew of the imminent collapse of this trial, but did nothing to stop it.
“There are still many unanswered questions about this scandal – from the role of the National Security Adviser, to the potential involvement or knowledge of ministers, and ultimately whether the Prime Minister or the Security Minister has misled the House of Commons throughout this process.
“We will consider this disclosure. But it is clear that this is just the start, and the China files must now be published in full and without delay. Until that time the stench of scandal will hang around this Government.”
The Conservatives have been pressing Labour over its handling of the collapsed trial of Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry. Both men, who deny wrongdoing, had been accused of passing secrets to China, but charges against them were dropped last month.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the case fell apart because the Government’s evidence did not show that China represented a threat to national security at the time of the alleged offences.
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Quick recap of case so far
The Crown Prosecution Service abandoned a case against two Britons accused of spying for China despite being told by the UK’s deputy national security adviser that Beijing’s intelligence agencies “harm the interests and security of the UK”.
Three witness statements were released by Keir Starmer on Wednesday night in an effort to draw a line under a row over why the case was dropped against the two, one of whom also warned the other in a message: “You’re in spy territory now.”
Liberal Democrats call for statutory inquiry into China spy saga
The Liberal Democrats have called for a statutory inquiry into the China spy saga.
Party foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller said: “These witness statements are only part of the puzzle and raise yet more unanswered questions.”
Former researcher Mr Cash said he is “completely innocent” and has been “placed in an impossible position” because he has not been able to prove it in a public trial.
“I wish to reiterate that I am completely innocent. Not just because the case against me was dropped, but because at no point did I ever intentionally assist Chinese intelligence,” he said on Wednesday night.
He added: “I have been placed in an impossible position. I have not had the daylight of a public trial to show my innocence, and I should not have to take part in a trial by media.”
Meanwhile, friends of Mr Collins said he did not understand why his evidence was insufficient for the case to proceed, The Spectator reported.
The magazine also cited several sources from the last government saying that two serious cases of foreign spying involving Russia and China were suppressed, reportedly involved hacking of the Ministry of Defence and Downing Street.
CPS should explain why the China spying case was dropped, minister insists
Government minister Stephen Kinnock said the head of the Crown Prosecution Service should explain why the China spying case was dropped.Asked if director of public prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson was the right man for the job, Mr Kinnock said: “I’m not going to comment on that.”He told Sky News: “I believe the DPP told MPs yesterday that he felt the evidence was 95% of the way there, but there was a 5% gap that was missing.“I think he’s the best person to explain what that 5% was missing was.“We are deeply disappointed that the prosecution didn’t go ahead. We think a big part of the reason for that was the abject failure of the previous government to update the legislation.“And it is also, I think, quite appalling now that we have the Leader of the Opposition playing politics with our national security, throwing around unsubstantiated allegations about this Labour government deliberately collapsing the trial. That is patently nonsense.“And I think the fact that the Prime Minister has shown maximum transparency by publishing these three witness statements demonstrates very clearly that national security will always be the top priority of this government.”
Tories have been pressing Government over China spy case handling
The Conservatives have been pressing ministers over their handling of the collapsed trial of Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry.
Both men, who deny wrongdoing, had been accused of passing secrets to China but charges against them were dropped last month.
Sir Keir announced at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday the Government would publish the statements.
Questions have been raised about why the final paragraph of Mr Collins’ statement reflects the current government’s stance on China when Sir Keir and the CPS have said it is that of the Tories that matters as the alleged offences took place when they were in power.
Keir Starmer at PMQs on Wednesday (Image: PA)
Starmer faces more questions after publishing China spy case evidence
Sir Keir Starmer’s government is facing more questions over the China spying case after it published witness statements that called out Beijing’s espionage and branded the country a threat to the UK’s economic security.
Three statements provided by deputy national security adviser Matt Collins as part of the Crown Prosecution Service’s case were published on Wednesday night.
The CPS dropped the case after deeming the evidence did not show China was a threat to national security.
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