Spy case prosecutors weren't given MI5 papers on China threat, claims ex-minister

"Your support makes all the difference. Sir Keir Starmer's team had access to multiple documents which proved China was a national security risk before the collapse of a spying trial, the shadow home secretary has claimed, amid growing questions over the government's willingness to confront Beijing. Chris Philp claimed the government could have handed these papers over to prosecutors, but they chose not to, accusing ministers of having destroyed the prosecution of two men accused of spying for Beijing."

"The case against 30-year-old Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and 33-year-old Christopher Berry, a teacher, collapsed last month after the government did not provide evidence that Beijing was a threat to national security. Mr Cash and Mr Berry were charged by the CPS in April last year with spying under the Official Secrets Act 1911, when they were accused of collecting and communicating information which could be useful to an enemy. They both denied the charges."

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Sir Keir Starmer's team had access to multiple documents which proved China was a national security risk before the collapse of a spying trial. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said ministers could have handed those papers to prosecutors but chose not to, and accused ministers of destroying the prosecution of two men accused of spying for Beijing. The case against 30-year-old Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and 33-year-old Christopher Berry, a teacher, collapsed after the government did not provide evidence that Beijing was a threat to national security. Mr Cash and Mr Berry were charged by the CPS in April with spying under the Official Secrets Act 1911 and both denied the charges.

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