Following the collapse of a case against two British men accused of spying for China, the UK’s chief prosecutor said on Tuesday the case fell apart because the government refused to label the Chinese government a “national threat.”
“No one from the government was willing to testify that, at the time of the offense, China represented a threat to national security,” The Associated Press quoted Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson as saying.
“When this (refusal to designate China as a 'threat') became apparent, the case could not proceed,” Parkinson wrote in a letter to lawmakers on Parliament’s home affairs and justice committees.
The case against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Barry, an academic, was dropped last month, weeks before their trial was due to begin. Prosecutors claimed there was not “enough evidence” to proceed, sparking allegations of "political interference" — a charge the Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer denies.
Cash and Barry, who both deny wrongdoing, were charged in April 2024 with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be “useful to an enemy” and “prejudicial to the safety or interests” of the UK between late 2021 and February 2023. The century-old law requires prosecutors to show that the defendants acted on behalf of an “enemy.”
British intelligence has repeatedly warned about Beijing’s covert activities, and Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee labelled China a “strategic threat” in 2023. However, the UK government has only referred to it as a “strategic challenge.”
The Labour government has sought to cautiously reset ties with Beijing after years of frosty relations over spying allegations, human rights concerns, China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war, and the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony. Prime Minister Starmer is expected to travel to China next year.
Asked about the spying case, he shifted blame to the previous Conservative administration. “The government couldn’t provide the testimony prosecutors wanted because the Conservatives had not designated China a ‘threat,’ instead calling it an epoch-defining challenge,” he said. “You can’t prosecute someone two years later in relation to a designation that wasn’t in place at the time.”
The Chinese embassy dismissed the allegations as “fabricated” and called them “malicious slander.”
“No one from the government was willing to testify that, at the time of the offense, China represented a threat to national security,” The Associated Press quoted Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson as saying.
“When this (refusal to designate China as a 'threat') became apparent, the case could not proceed,” Parkinson wrote in a letter to lawmakers on Parliament’s home affairs and justice committees.
The case against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Barry, an academic, was dropped last month, weeks before their trial was due to begin. Prosecutors claimed there was not “enough evidence” to proceed, sparking allegations of "political interference" — a charge the Labour government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer denies.
Cash and Barry, who both deny wrongdoing, were charged in April 2024 with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be “useful to an enemy” and “prejudicial to the safety or interests” of the UK between late 2021 and February 2023. The century-old law requires prosecutors to show that the defendants acted on behalf of an “enemy.”
British intelligence has repeatedly warned about Beijing’s covert activities, and Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee labelled China a “strategic threat” in 2023. However, the UK government has only referred to it as a “strategic challenge.”
The Labour government has sought to cautiously reset ties with Beijing after years of frosty relations over spying allegations, human rights concerns, China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war, and the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony. Prime Minister Starmer is expected to travel to China next year.
Asked about the spying case, he shifted blame to the previous Conservative administration. “The government couldn’t provide the testimony prosecutors wanted because the Conservatives had not designated China a ‘threat,’ instead calling it an epoch-defining challenge,” he said. “You can’t prosecute someone two years later in relation to a designation that wasn’t in place at the time.”
The Chinese embassy dismissed the allegations as “fabricated” and called them “malicious slander.”
You may also like
Man Utd appointing Premier League rival figure for role made redundant by Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Dolly Parton's iconic four-word response to fan concerns over her health
Who is Jonathan Rinderknecht? Former Uber driver arrested for Palisades fire - All you need to know
Bhubaneswar Faces Disruption as Heavy Rains Cause Flooding and Traffic Issues
Bihar elections: Congress reignites 'vote chori' claims, questions ECI over deleted names