Sir Keir Starmer has published the evidence submitted by the Government as part of the collapsed China spy case. Witness statements from deputy national security adviser Matt Collins have been released this evening.
Mr Collins said Chinese intelligence services were “highly capable and conduct large scale espionage operations” against the UK but added the Government was “committed to pursuing a positive relationship” with Beijing.
It comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of being “evasive” and “too weak to stand up to China” during PMQs. 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.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the case collapsed because the Government’s evidence did not show that China represented a threat to national security at the time of the alleged offences.
But Sir Keir insisted the “substantive” evidence was submitted under the Conservatives and supplementary statements handed to the CPS subsequently reflected the Tory administration’s position.
No 10 said Sir Keir was told the case was going to be dropped a couple of days before the CPS announced it.
He told MPs: “I’m deeply disappointed by the outcome, we wanted to see prosecutions.”
He said Mr Collins had produced an initial witness statement in 2023, supplemented by two further “short statements”.
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said he had sought further evidence from the Government on the threat posed by China.
Sir Keir told MPs the case had to be based on the position taken by the Conservative government.
He said the Conservative administration’s Integrated Review of 2021 and the refresh of that document in 2023 were “very carefully worded to not describe China as an enemy”.
“The deputy national security adviser (DNSA) Matt Collins set out the then-government’s position in a substantive witness statement in 2023, which was subsequently supplemented by two further short statements.
“The Cabinet Secretary assures me that the DNSA faithfully set out the policy of the then-Tory government. I know first hand that the DNSA is a civil servant of the utmost integrity.”
