Badenoch Demands Answers From PM Over Collapse Of China Spy Case

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is demanding answers from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after the collapse of a high-profile spying case involving two men accused of working for China.

In a letter sent to Downing Street, Badenoch said the public and Parliament “deserve answers and transparency” after charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were dropped in September. The case, brought under the Official Secrets Act, collapsed after prosecutors were unable to get evidence from the government confirming that China was officially considered a national security threat at the time of the alleged offences.

The director of public prosecutions said the case could not meet the legal threshold without that confirmation. But this explanation has sparked outrage, especially after claims surfaced that the government had access to “reams of information” proving China posed a threat between 2021 and 2023.

Badenoch’s letter hit back at government statements that seemed to shift over time: “Your government’s account of what has happened has changed repeatedly.” She asked Starmer to either appear in Parliament himself or send a senior minister to explain the situation “once and for all.”

She also demanded clarification on the role of Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, amid reports he had discussed the evidence with prosecutors. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson claimed Powell had no role in the “substance or the evidence,” prompting Badenoch to ask: “If he was ‘not involved’… then who was?”

Former security minister Tom Tugendhat also slammed the situation, calling the collapse of the case “absolutely abhorrent” and suggesting the government was “willing to cover up the actions of a hostile state.” He told BBC Radio 4 that the UK appeared to be letting China off the hook: “The principal charge is that… the government seemingly has intervened either by action or omission in the proceeding of justice.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp went further, pointing the finger directly at Powell: “It looks as if Jonathan Powell was behind this decision – and he should resign if he is.”

The government has insisted that at the time of the alleged offences—from December 2021 to February 2023—China had not been officially labelled a “threat,” only an “epoch-defining challenge.” Starmer said any prosecution had to be based on that previous government’s stance: “You have to prosecute people on the basis of the circumstances at the time of the alleged offence.”

But critics argue the evidence was already overwhelming. Former ministers say there were hundreds of examples of Chinese activity that could have been presented in court—ranging from cyber attacks on the Ministry of Defence to public warnings from MI5. One former government source told the BBC: “I don't think there is a sane jury in the world that would look at that evidence and conclude China was not a threat.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer tried to shift the blame toward outdated laws, calling the Official Secrets Act “ropey” and “archaic.” He acknowledged that China “does pose national security threats to the UK,” including in areas like cyber warfare and repression of dissidents, but added that cooperation with Beijing was still necessary in some areas.

There’s also a spotlight on a proposed “super embassy” China wants to build in central London. Critics, including the Liberal Democrats, argue the plan should be blocked immediately. “Giving the green light… would enable Chinese espionage on an industrial scale,” said Lib Dem MP Calum Miller.

Starmer is currently overseas attending a summit on the Gaza peace process, drawing more criticism from Badenoch: “Instead of setting out the full facts before the House of Commons today, you are planning to travel to the Middle East.”

As pressure mounts, opposition voices inside and outside Parliament are calling for clear answers about why a case involving alleged spying on MPs fell apart—and whether Britain’s handling of China is compromising national security.