Keir Starmer has announced he will publish key evidence in the Chinese espionage case that led to the collapse of the trial.
The Prime Minister told MPs at the start of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) that he would publish three witness statements shared with prosecutors, while maintaining his position that the last government is responsible for the failure to prosecute.
The halt in the prosecution of Christopher Cash, 30, a former parliamentary investigator, and Christopher Berry, 33, a teacher, has raised serious questions about national security and government policy toward China.
Both men, who deny wrongdoing, were accused of passing secrets to China, but charges against them were dropped last month. The Crown Prosecution Service said the case collapsed because the government's evidence did not establish that China posed a threat to national security at the time of the alleged crimes.
Sir Keir told MPs: “I am deeply disappointed by the outcome, we wanted to see prosecution.”
Starmer was pressed over the Chinese spy scandal (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)
Ahead of a barrage of questions from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, Sir Keir told MPs the case should be based on the Conservative government's position.
He said the Conservative government's 2021 Integrated Review and the 2023 renewal of that document were “very carefully worded not to describe China as an enemy.”
“Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Collins set out the then-government position in a substantive witness statement in 2023, which was then supplemented by two further short statements.
“The Cabinet Secretary assures me that the DNSA has faithfully set out the policies of the then Tory government. I know first-hand that the DNSA is a public servant of the utmost integrity. Those who have worked with him will agree with that assessment, I am sure.”
“Under this government, no minister or special adviser played any role in providing evidence.”
Government sources had initially claimed that the CPS was blocking the release of Mr Collins' evidence, but the organization denied this was the case.
Sir Keir said: “Given the information contained therein, we will conduct a short trial. But I want to make it clear that I intend to publish the witness statements in full.”
However, the statement was expected by Ms Badenoch, who used all six questions to question the Prime Minister on the issue.
Ms Badenoch asked: “What on earth is the point of having a lawyer instead of a leader as Prime Minister if he can't even get the law right when it comes to national security?”
Badenoch pressured the Prime Minister over the trial (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)
Sir Keir responded: 'She's clearly not a lawyer or a leader.'
There was also a clash with former Foreign Secretary Sir James Cleverly, now shadow Housing Secretary, who was angered by Sir Keir's claims that he had said in a speech that China was not a threat.
Making a point of order, he said: “I have been misquoted. And that misquote, I think, is telling. I have been quoted as saying in a speech at Mansion House that describing China was impossible, impractical and, most importantly, unwise.
“The quote was that it is impossible, impractical and unwise to describe China in one word or as a policy in one word.
“I went on to say that our policy 'we will strengthen our national security protections where Beijing's actions threaten our people or our prosperity. And I ended by saying, and I ended by saying 'when there are tensions with other objectives, we will always put our national security first.'”
