"The government's national security adviser Jonathan Powell made no decisions about the content of any evidence provided in the collapsed case against two men accused of spying for China, a minister has said. Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry - who deny the allegations - in September. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the case collapsed because the government had refused to give the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) "vital information" as it wanted to "curry favour" with China."
"Mr Powell, who is one of the prime minister's most senior advisers and political allies, is facing pressure over whether he played a role in the collapse of the trial, with the Conservatives saying he has "questions to answer". Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he has "full confidence" in his national security adviser, telling broadcasters: "He is doing an excellent job." Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act in April 2024, when the Conservatives were in power."
Jonathan Powell made no decisions about the content of evidence in the collapsed case involving two men accused of spying for China. Prosecutors dropped charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry in September; both men deny the allegations. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch alleged the government refused to provide the CPS with vital information to curry favour with China, a claim dismissed as baseless by Security Minister Jarvis. Powell faces political pressure and questions from Conservatives, while Sir Keir Starmer has expressed full confidence in him. The CPS said the case collapsed because China had not been labelled a national security threat at the time of the alleged offences.
Read at www.bbc.com
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