Starmer to Publish China Spy Case Evidence
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to publish witness statements from the failed prosecution of two British men accused of spying for China, as pressure mounts over the collapse of the high-profile case.
The statements, written by Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins, played a central role in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decision to drop espionage charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry last month. Both men had denied wrongdoing and were formally acquitted after the CPS said the case couldn’t proceed.
At the heart of the issue is whether the UK government officially regarded China as a national security threat between 2021 and 2023—the period of the alleged offences. Without that designation, it became legally difficult to pursue charges under the Official Secrets Act, which typically requires the accused to have aided an “enemy.”
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Starmer said he was “deeply disappointed” the prosecutions didn’t go ahead and emphasized that the statements would be released after a brief internal process. “I intend to publish the witness statements in full,” he told MPs, adding that “no minister or special adviser played any role in the provision of evidence.”
He also pushed back on accusations of political interference, saying the content of Collins’ statements had to reflect the position of the previous Conservative government, which, he argued, stopped short of calling China an enemy in its official policy documents. “The cabinet secretary assures me that the [deputy national security adviser] faithfully set out the policy of the then-Tory government,” he said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the government's explanation “simply unbelievable”, accusing Starmer of shifting blame and hiding behind civil servants. “He's blaming his civil servants, he's blaming the media, he's blaming the last government,” she said. “He should have seen this case through… A serious case involving national security has collapsed because this prime minister is too weak to stand up to China.”
Badenoch also questioned why Collins, a civil servant, was allowed to decide what evidence was presented, instead of Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s national security adviser and a political appointee. She cited past examples of Conservative ministers and officials calling China a “serious threat,” and claimed Starmer’s government was softening its stance to avoid upsetting Beijing.
Who’s to Blame?
Starmer defended his position, pointing to documents like the 2021 Integrated Review and its 2023 update, which carefully avoided labelling China as an enemy. These documents, he said, were crafted under Conservative leadership and formed the basis for the witness statements.
The CPS, meanwhile, said it had spent months requesting additional evidence from Starmer’s government before the case finally collapsed in September 2025. A CPS spokesperson clarified that they wouldn’t oppose the release of the witness statements, stating, “The material contained in them is not ours… it is a matter for the government.”
The row threatens to undercut Starmer’s national security credentials and cast doubt on the role of Powell, a key foreign policy figure credited with strengthening ties with the US and supporting efforts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
As the government prepares to publish the statements, it remains to be seen whether transparency will quiet criticism—or fuel further questions about how Britain handles national security threats from China.
