Keir Starmer Comes Out Fighting Over Claims No.10 Sabotaged Chinese Spying Trial

Keir Starmer has been keen to improve relations with China.Keir Starmer has come out fighting over claims his government deliberately sabotaged a spy trial to avoid harming the UK’s relations with China.The prime minister’s official spokesman said it was “entirely false” to suggest No.10 had failed to fully co-operate with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry.The men had denied spying for China and were due to stand trial under the Official Secrets Act, but it collapsed last month.Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson revealed that his team had tried “over many months” to get the evidence it needed against the men, but it had not been forthcoming from the government.“When this became apparent, the case could not proceed,” he said.Opposition parties have accused the government of deliberately obstructing the case to avoid harming relations between the UK and China.But at a Downing Street briefing for journalists on Monday, the PM’s spokesman hit back at those claims.He said: “It is entirely false. The CPS decision to drop the case was entirely a matter for the CPS.“There was no role for any member of this government, no minister, or special adviser, to take any decision in relation to this case. That is entirely for the CPS.”Securing a conviction against the men would have required proving China was an “enemy” as stated in the Official Secrets Act.Starmer has previously insisted that as the alleged offences took place under the previous Conservative government, that administration’s approach to China had to be considered in courtroom evidence.The Tories at the time – including current leader, Kemi Badenoch – declined to describe China as a threat.The PM’s spokesman also denied claims that Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, personally intervened to sabotage the case.He said: “There have been various reports alleging that a meeting was held about the case in September where the national security adviser ruled that China could not be defined as a threat or took a decision to withdraw evidence or withdraw key witnesses. That is simply untrue.“The national security adviser, nor any government minister, made no decisions on the content of any evidence relating to the case, nor has he or any government minister had any part in any decisions about the substance of the case itself.”Related...Keir Starmer Is Under Fire After The Trial Of 2 Men Accused Of Spying For China Collapsed. Here's WhyBlow For Keir Starmer As China Slams His Trade Deal With Donald TrumpDowning Street Hits Back At Trump Tariff Chief's Claim UK Is China's 'Compliant Servant'

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