The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dropped proceedings against two Britons accused of spying for China, sparking a political row over the decision. The trial was set to begin in October, but the CPS abandoned the case three weeks ago with little explanation until Tuesday evening.
Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, made an extraordinary disclosure, hinting at a lack of backing from Downing Street. However, legal experts argue that the prosecution was still possible despite the political context.
One of the accused, Christopher Cash, was a parliamentary researcher for Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, focusing on China issues. The sudden abandonment of the high-profile espionage case has raised questions about the motivations behind the CPS's decision.
