Jonathan Powell, the UK's national security adviser, is set to appear before parliament for the first time amid questions about his role in the collapse of a trial of two Britons accused of spying for China. The hearing, before the joint committee on the national security strategy, will mark the end of a year-long standoff between the committee and ministers, who had refused to make Powell available for scrutiny.
The trial of Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary aide, and Christopher Berry was due to begin this month but was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on 15 September. Both men denied the charges. Prosecutors said the evidential standard was 'no longer met'. Downing Street has strongly denied suggestions of government interference, stating that claims of withheld evidence or withdrawn witnesses are 'untrue'.
Powell is likely to face questions about his role after reports that the CPS withdrew charges days after senior Whitehall officials, including Powell and Foreign Office top civil servant Oliver Robbins, met to discuss the trial. To prove the case under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors would have had to show the defendants were acting for an 'enemy'. Powell reportedly told the meeting that the government's evidence would be based on this year's national security strategy, which does not use that term to describe China but instead calls it a 'geo-strategic challenge', making it unusable in court.
Ministers, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, have expressed disappointment at the collapse of the case. Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has said the development leaves MPs vulnerable to espionage and is considering bringing a private prosecution. The intelligence and security committee, chaired by Labour peer Kevan Jones, will also examine if further investigation is required.
Powell, a veteran of the New Labour years who served as chief of staff to Tony Blair and helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement, has emerged as a key figure shaping foreign policy under Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He is referred to by some in Whitehall as the de facto foreign secretary and is heavily involved in managing UK-US relations.
