The Conservatives have called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to come clean over the collapse of the high-profile China spy prosecution, demanding full transparency about the government’s role in the decision.
The case against two men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, accused of passing confidential reports on UK-China policy to Beijing, was dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ruled it no longer had sufficient evidence.
It was reported that Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s national security adviser, told a Whitehall meeting the government could not describe China as an enemy in court, a move that led to the CPS withdrawal.
Senior Tories have questioned whether Mr Powell acted with the Prime Minister’s knowledge. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said it was inconceivable that Powell decided without Starmer’s approval, accusing Labour of prioritising economic ties with Beijing over national security.
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart said Labour must explain “why the charges were dropped” and whether ministers “leaned on the CPS”.
Tory MPs Alicia Kearns and Tom Tugendhat have also called for a parliamentary inquiry into the collapse, citing “serious questions of constitutional impropriety”.
Downing Street has denied interfering in the prosecution, insisting the CPS acted independently and that there was no change in government evidence.
However, sources said the case failed because Powell’s deputy, Matt Collins, refused to label China an enemy during testimony.
The CPS has declined to comment further, though Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson previously said evidence that was once sufficient no longer met the legal threshold.
Critics say the government’s stance raises questions about its willingness to confront China amid growing tensions over espionage and foreign influence.
