Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has insisted that the government's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, had no involvement in the decision to drop the prosecution of two British men accused of spying for China. Appearing on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Phillipson stated that ministers and officials, including Powell, played no part in the substance or evidence of the case.
The case against Christopher Cash, a parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a researcher based in China, was abandoned in September. Reports suggest the prosecution was halted because the government was unwilling to describe China as an enemy, a designation deemed necessary for a successful prosecution under the Official Secrets Act. Both men deny allegations of providing information about Westminster to China's politburo.
Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, revealed in a letter to parliamentary select committees that the case collapsed after ministers and officials declined to confirm that Beijing represented a threat to UK national security, despite months of efforts. This clarification was required due to recent case law stemming from a separate spying trial involving Bulgarian nationals.
Phillipson emphasised that the legal changes causing the issue dated back to 2023, when the Conservatives were in power. She said the Crown Prosecution Service was best placed to explain why the case did not proceed, but reiterated that the national security adviser had no role in the decision.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to address unanswered questions about the handling of the case. She accused the government of weakness in standing up to Beijing on a crucial matter of national security.
