UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces pressure over the dropped China spy case, with calls for transparency and answers from MPs and ministers.
As reported by The Independent, Keir Starmer faces calls to address “unanswered questions” regarding the China spy case, amid claims the government may have covered up key details.
On the first day back in Westminster from conference recess, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urged the prime minister to provide a parliamentary statement explaining the collapse of the dropped China spy case.
How did the China spy case collapse spark questions for Keir Starmer?
Concerns have grown over the case after the former MI6 chief said he is unsure why the prosecution of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry was dropped, with other senior civil servants also raising questions.
The prime minister’s team faces allegations that they had evidence of China’s national security threat but did not provide it to the prosecutors before the case collapsed.
Keir Starmer said his government lacked evidence for prosecution as the previous Conservative administration never labeled China a national security threat, says DPP Stephen Parkinson.
The case’s collapse has raised doubts over Britain’s readiness to confront China, even as Mr. Starmer pushes for closer relations.
Tory MPs push for answers, with Sir Iain Duncan Smith reportedly calling for an emergency debate on the China spy case.
What did Kemi Badenoch tell the prime minister in her letter?
In a letter to Keir Starmer ahead of the Gaza summit in Egypt, Kemi Badenoch said,
“Your government’s account of what has happened has changed repeatedly.”
She stated,
“Instead of setting out the full facts before the House of Commons today, you are planning to travel to the Middle East.”
Ms Badenoch said,
“If you will not make a statement yourself, will you instruct a senior minister to clear things up once and for all through a full parliamentary statement? The public and Parliament deserve answers and transparency.”
The Tory leader said ministers must clarify whether the UK
“still maintains that China could not be argued as a national security threat in court.”
Ms Badenoch also demanded answers over reports that the prime minister’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, discussed the case last month.
What did Tom Tugendhat say about the government’s role in the China spy case?
The former security minister Tom Tugendhat said,
“I think this is absolutely abhorrent action and I think the right thing to do is to have gone to trial, but the government appears to have decided that there are other reasons why the British people should not have the ability either to choose their own Members of Parliament or to allow those Members of Parliament to speak freely, but instead, is willing to cover up for the actions of a hostile state which is seeking to intervene in the freedoms of the British people.”
He added,
“The principal charge is that in the interests of a foreign power, the government seemingly has intervened either by action or omission in the proceedings of justice in this country, which is a staggering charge to lay at somebody who claims that the background ethos of his entire political philosophy is justice.”
What did Hamish Falconer say about China as a UK security threat?
Foreign Office Minister Falconer confirmed on Monday that China poses security risks to the UK in specific sectors.
He said,
“They do pose national security threats to the UK, whether that’s in relation to cybersecurity, transnational repression, their relationship with Russia, in relation to the conflict in Ukraine; but there are also, of course, areas where we have to cooperate.”
Mr Falconer said the case collapsed due to the “ropey” and outdated Official Secrets Act, adding that ministers will follow standard procedures on China’s embassy plans.
After the collapse of the spy case, reports say the government delayed a decision on the Royal Mint Court embassy project.
How did former officials and the White House react to the China spy case collapse?
The White House has increased pressure on London, as Trump administration sources reportedly raised concerns about the UK’s reliability after the China spy case was dropped.
Lord Mark Sedwill, who once served as national security adviser, said he was puzzled by the case’s collapse, adding that China poses a clear threat. Former Cabinet secretary Lord Simon Case reminded that UK intelligence agencies have long been warning about Beijing’s growing influence.
What did Bridget Phillipson say about Jonathan Powell’s role in the China spy case?
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, confirmed Jonathan Powell had no involvement in the case collapse, saying,
“Yes, I can give that assurance. We’re very disappointed that the CPS were not able to take forward the prosecution.”
Ms Phillipson added,
“All I can make clear is that we are disappointed that prosecutions didn’t go ahead. But this does predate this Government. It goes back some years, and it was a decision taken by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
What did Priti Patel say about Labour’s handling of the China spy case?
Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, stated,
“Labour are desperate to cover up their capitulation to China over the spy case, but their story just keeps unravelling.”
She said,
“At first they insisted they had no role whatsoever in the case collapsing. But today they have finally let slip that Starmer ally and political appointee Jonathan Powell advised on matters surrounding the case.”
Ms Patel added,
“Powell has well-documented links to China. So this admission opens up further serious questions – what advice did he give, whom did he give it to, and what else is the Government hiding from us? His position looks increasingly untenable.”
Key details about the China spy case
Two British men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, were charged with spying for China.
They were accused of passing sensitive political information to a Chinese intelligence agent between 2021 and 2023. Prosecutors dropped the case, citing a lack of official evidence designating China as a national security threat.
The collapse triggered political backlash, with critics saying the government’s failure to label China an enemy undermined UK security.