Starmer pledges to publish crucial evidence in collapsed China spy case
Keir Starmer has announced that he will release key evidence at the Chinese spying trial that led to the collapse of the case.
The Prime Minister told MPs at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) that he would publish the statements of three witnesses shared with prosecutors, maintaining his position that the last government was responsible for the failure of the investigation.
The abandonment of the prosecution of former parliamentary investigator Christopher Cash, 30, and teacher Christopher Berry, 33, has raised serious questions about national security and the government’s policy towards China.
Both men, who have denied wrongdoing, were accused of passing secrets to China, but the charges against them were dropped last month after the Crown Prosecution Service said the case collapsed because government evidence did not show China posed a threat to national security at the time of the alleged crimes.
Sir Keir told MPs: “I am deeply disappointed with the outcome, we have asked for proceedings to be brought.”
Anticipating a barrage of questions from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, Sir Keir told MPs the case should be based on the position taken by the Conservative government.
He said the Conservative administration’s 2021 Integrated Review and its renewal in 2023 were “worded very carefully so as not to portray China as the enemy.”
“Deputy national security adviser Matt Collins laid out the then government’s position in a 2023 witness statement, which was later supported by two brief statements.
“The Cabinet Secretary reassures me that the DNSA faithfully set out the policy of the then Conservative government. I know first-hand that the DNSA was a highly honest civil servant. I am sure the dissidents who worked with him would agree with that assessment.
“Under this government, no minister or special advisor has played any role in providing the evidence.”
Government sources had initially claimed the CPS had blocked the release of Mr Collins’ evidence, but the organization denied this was the case.
Sir Keir said: “We will conduct a brief process based on the information it contains. But I want to make clear that I intend to publish the full witness statements.”
But this statement was expected by Ms Badenoch, who also used six questions quizzing the Prime Minister on the issue.
Ms Badenoch asked: “What’s the point of having a lawyer as Prime Minister instead of a leader if he can’t even apply the law correctly on a matter of national security?”
Responding, Sir Keir said: “It is clear that he is 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 claims that Sir Keir said in a speech that China was not a threat.
Making a point of order, he said: “I have been misquoted. And I think that misquote is important. I was quoted as saying in a speech at Mansion House that it was impossible, impractical and, most importantly, unwise, to define China.”
“The quote was that it is impossible, impractical and unwise to describe China in one word or a policy in one word.
“I concluded by saying that our policy is ‘to strengthen our national security protections wherever Beijing’s actions pose a threat to our people or our well-being,’ and I concluded by saying: ‘When there are tensions with other targets, we will always put our national security first.'”
