Starmer blames Tories as China spy case collapses

Sir Keir Starmer has denied accusations that Britain tried to appease China by dropping a prosecution case against two men accused of spying for Beijing.

Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were arrested in 2023, and had been accused of passing politically sensitive information onto a Chinese agent.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, said the CPS had spent “many months” trying to secure evidence, including a government statement confirming that China posed a national security threat, which was never provided.

Minister Emma Hardy said there had been no government pressure, that the government was “incredibly disappointed,” and described China as a “challenge” because of the UK’s extensive trade ties with the country.

Starmer’s former top civil servant Simon Case also challenged Starmer’s explanation, saying the there was enough intelligence and evidence for the trial to proceed.

He also said that the government could only draw on the previous government’s assessments, thereby seeking to spread blame onto the Tory administration.

The Conservatives have demanded that the prime minister explain himself in Parliament. Former CPS officials, including Nick Vamos, said the DPP’s account “still doesn’t add up,” suggesting prosecutors may have lacked sufficient evidence or misunderstood what was needed to bring the case.

Reports this week indicate that the evidence the CPS had been waiting for may not have existed, raising further concerns about how the case was handled. The controversy has reignited debate over the UK’s approach to national security, the influence of foreign states, and the transparency of prosecutorial decision-making.