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SAnd keir starmer Is published a series Witness statements given by the Deputy National Security Advisor Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the collapsed China espionage case.
Prime Minister Was Hope to publish evidence Will draw a line under the saga that has dogged his government for weeks.
One of the main allegations was that The government denied in its evidence To describe CPS Beijing This was deemed a threat to Britain’s national security, leading to the case against the two alleged spies being dropped.
But evidence revealed that Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Collins has repeatedly described the “threat” posed by China, including how it “endangers Britain’s economic prosperity and resilience and the integrity of our democratic institutions”.
Here, Independent Walks through what we know – and unanswered questions – about the collapsed China spying case.
China is a ‘threat’
The CPS unexpectedly dropped charges in September against two alleged spies, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry. They both deny any wrongdoing.
It said the case collapsed because the government’s evidence did not show that China was a national security threat at the time of the alleged crimes, which occurred under the previous Tory government.
But we now know from statements published on Wednesday that Mr Collins repeatedly highlighted the threat posed by Beijing, including in his final witness statement in August, in which he discussed “the active espionage threat that China poses to the UK between 2021-23”.
But Britain wants ‘positive relations’ with Beijing
Despite repeatedly citing the “threat” posed by China, Mr Collins also said the government was committed to “building a positive relationship” with Beijing.
Kemi Badenoch has said that the government’s heated words about China were “lifted straight from the Labor Party manifesto” and that “the government’s story is coming under scrutiny”.
So why did the case collapse?
The spotlight has now turned to the CPS, with the government urging it to explain why the case collapsed.
CPS chief Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), explained to MPs that the evidence in the case was “95 per cent in place”, a minister said on Thursday. Stephen Kinnock said he pointed out that there was “a 5 per cent difference that was missing”.
“I think he’s the best person to explain what the 5 per cent reduction was,” Mr Kinnock told Sky News.
Why didn’t Keir Starmer intervene?
Downing Street It was confirmed on Wednesday that Sir Keir had been informed of the impending collapse of the case just two days before it was announced.
This has raised fresh questions about what he knew about the case and whether he could have intervened.
The government has said no ministers played any role in the evidence put to the CPS by Mr Collins, meaning that, even if informed, Sir Keir would not have asked to see the evidence and would not have asked why the case was collapsing.
Was Matt Collins working alone?
Questions have also been raised about why Mr Collins took full responsibility for providing evidence to the CPS, rather than working with his superior Jonathan Powell, a politically appointed special adviser, or any ministers, including Sir Keir.
Given the seriousness and political sensitivity of the matter, critics have said it is unbelievable that a senior civil servant would not have raised the issue with ministers.
Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns said it was “completely improbable” that, after the CPS sought evidence for more than 14 months, Mr Collins did not discuss it with Mr Powell, Attorney General Lord Harmer or any other minister.
What has the government said since publication?
A Cabinet Office minister defended the government’s handling of the issue and described how he found the Conservatives’ approach “confusing”.
Chris Ward, who was making his debut at the dispatch box, said: “On Monday he accused the Government of drawing political conclusions, including by appointing a National Security Adviser. The Prime Minister has made clear that is completely false.
“On the other hand they are also saying that more should have been done, there should have been political intervention and the Prime Minister should have directed or tried to help the CPS.
“The Prime Minister made it absolutely clear that is not the case, and the Prime Minister will not do that, and no government will interfere in the CPS, the decision to impose charges is entirely theirs.”
In the same Commons session, Matt Western, chairman of the Joint Committee on National Security, demanded that civil servants and ministers be made available to attend an inquiry into the incident.
“Obviously there are still a lot of questions to be asked about how this happened, what evidence there was that might not have been shared but other evidence that perhaps wasn’t sought,” he said, confirming that the investigation would go ahead.
Mr Ward said he was confident that people would be made available for his committee.
What next for alleged spies?
Mr Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, said the collapse of the trial had put him in an “impossible position”.
When the evidence was published he said, “I want to reiterate that I am completely innocent. Not just because the case against me was dropped, but because I never knowingly helped the Chinese intelligence agency.”
He said, “I have not got the opportunity of a public hearing to show my innocence and I should not take part in the media hearing.”
Mr Berry also denies any wrongdoing. But evidence revealed how Mr Berry was recruited by the Chinese state and used Mr Cash to gather intelligence on the UK.
At one point, Mr Cash told Mr Berry that “you are now in spy territory”.