New revelations have cast doubt on Tory grievances regarding the collapsed China spy trial, as efforts to label Beijing as an “enemy” were abandoned during Rishi Sunak’s administration. Kemi Badenoch’s party faced allegations of deceiving the public with exaggerated outrage over the case’s failure last month.
The Conservatives have frequently accused Keir Starmer’s government of political meddling and subsequent inaction in the prosecution of Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash, who were charged with sharing information with China between 2021 and 2023, a claim both individuals have consistently denied.
The trial fell apart when the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) cited insufficient evidence to proceed. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson publicly criticized the government for not furnishing enough proof to establish China as a national security threat.
Berry and Cash were prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act 1911, superseded by the National Security Act 2023, which required espionage charges only if the disclosed information benefited an adversary.
In correspondence with MPs, National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell disclosed that any reference to China as an “enemy” of the UK was eliminated from key documentation in 2023 since it did not align with the Conservative government’s policy at the time.
Counter Terror Police and the CPS were aware of the alteration made by Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Collins, as indicated in a letter jointly signed by the officials to the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy (JCNSS).
Amid Conservative outcry over supposed political intervention by Labour, the letter clarified that the only politician informed of the statement was the then-Prime Minister, Mr. Sunak, in December 2023.
Starmer’s administration has maintained that ministers did not interfere. Attorney General Lord Hermer, in a letter to the JCNSS, stated he was notified of the DPP’s decision to drop the case on September 3, leading to its collapse.
Lord Hermer confirmed discussing the decision but emphasized that he refrained from intervening or directing the DPP. He also noted his discretion in not sharing the information with Cabinet colleagues at the request of Mr. Parkinson.
The DPP and Mr. Collins are scheduled for questioning by MPs on Monday following these revelations. Parkinson highlighted that Collins’s refusal to characterize China as a national security threat was detrimental to the case, delaying confirmation of this stance for over a year.
These disclosures have triggered criticism of the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister’s press secretary remarked on baseless accusations and negligence in national security, urging accountability for the gaps in the law.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Max Wilkinson MP commented on the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability from both the Conservatives and Labour in this matter.
Today’s revelations expose the Conservative leadership’s false indignation and call for a public apology for misleading claims.