UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson says Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell played no role in the China spy case.
As reported by The Independent, Bridget Phillipson said Sir Keir Starmer’s national security adviser was not involved in the failed prosecution of two suspected Chinese spies and still retains the Prime Minister’s confidence.
What did Bridget Phillipson say about Jonathan Powell’s role in the spy case?
Bridget Phillipson said Jonathan Powell had no part in discussions over the “substance or evidence” of the case amid growing scrutiny over the dropped charges.
Asked to clarify Mr Powell’s involvement, Ms Phillipson said the former diplomat and ex-chief of staff to former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who joined Sir Keir’s team as national security adviser last year, had no role in the decision.
The education secretary said,
“Yes, I can give that assurance. We’re very disappointed that the CPS were not able to take forward the prosecution.”
When questioned about the purpose of Mr Powell’s role if he was not assisting in the case, Ms Phillipson responded, “He will be, but as I say, this was a decision taken by the CPS,” assuring the Prime Minister had full trust in him.
She added Mr Powell
“did not have those conversations around the substance or the evidence of the case.”
Referring to the case, Ms Phillipson said,
“We’re very disappointed that the CPS were not able to take forward the prosecution. I think it’s worth pointing out that this case dates back to 2023, so decisions that were taken were on the basis of legislation in force at the time and the implications that had for the CPS’s ability to take the case forward.”
She added,
“We are clear in our approach to China, which is we recognise the challenges, the threats, but also the opportunities that come. But the number one priority of this government is around keeping our country safe and our national security will always be the number one priority.”
What did Priti Patel say about Labour and the collapsed China spy case?
The shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, accused ministers of “political interference” in the failed Chinese spying case, highlighting the role of past governments’ designation of China.
When questioned about whether Labour should have labeled China a national security threat, Ms Patel responded, “Of course they should have.”
She said,
“We put forward lots of legislation involved in our national security, acts of parliament stopping China and Chinese firms from buying and acquiring British companies, because we knew that China was an adversary, a real threat to us.”
When asked if she wanted Britain to cut its economic ties with China, Ms Patel said such a relationship would “always” continue.
The shadow cabinet minister stated,
“The British public consume goods made in China. That is one thing. What we don’t like and what we fundamentally are calling out, is the fact that there is a spy case involving individuals that were effectively going to be prosecuted through the courts, and we’ve had government interference in that case.”
She added,
“That case collapsed effectively because the government did not give the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) the evidence about China being a threat to our national security. And that is fundamentally political, it’s a political interference in the judicial process.”
Keir Starmer and experts’ views on the collapse of the China spy case
Downing Street denied government involvement in the case’s collapse, with the Prime Minister blaming the Conservative administration in power during the alleged offences from December 2021 to February 2023.
The Prime Minister argued the evidence must focus on the Tory government’s foreign policy stance, which described China as an “epoch-defining challenge” rather than a national security threat.
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the Crown Prosecution Service tried for months to gather additional evidence, but witness statements failed to meet the required threshold.
Two former civil servants have raised concerns about the Prime Minister’s explanation for ending the cases against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a teacher.
Lord Mark Sedwill, who preceded Mr Powell, expressed confusion over the collapse of the trial, noting that China was clearly a threat, while former cabinet secretary Lord Simon Case said intelligence chiefs had publicly warned of the risk for years.
What is the China spy case?
Two British men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, were charged in 2024 with spying for China by passing politically sensitive information. Both denied the charges.
The case was dropped in 2025 because prosecutors could not get government evidence labeling China a national security threat at the time of the alleged spying, which is needed to prosecute under UK law.