A reference to China being an “enemy” of the UK was faraway from key proof for a collapsed spy trial in 2023 because it “did not reflect government policy” underneath the Conservatives on the time, based on the nationwide safety adviser.
Within the letter revealed by parliament’s Joint Committee on Nationwide Safety Technique earlier on Friday, Nationwide Safety Adviser (NSA) Jonathan Powell stated Counter Terror Police and the Crown Prosecution Service had been conscious of the change made by Deputy Nationwide Safety Adviser (DSNA) Matt Collins.
This could imply the CPS knew the “enemy” reference had been eliminated earlier than charging the 2 suspects, based on Mr Powell.
In one other letter revealed on Friday, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson informed the committee that it took DSNA Mr Collins greater than a yr to substantiate to prosecutors he wouldn’t say China posed a risk to UK nationwide safety in court docket.
Politics newest: Farage reacts after Reform defeated by Plaid
The DPP stated a Excessive Courtroom decide dominated in June final yr that an “enemy” underneath regulation is a state which “presently poses an active threat to the UK’s national security”, prompting the CPS to ask the DNSA whether or not China fulfilled that standards.
He added prosecutors didn’t consider there can be “any difficulty in obtaining evidence” from Mr Collins that China was a nationwide safety risk, however added: “This was a sticking point that could not be overcome.”
Mr Parkinson added that the DNSA’s “unwillingness” to explain China as an lively or present risk was “fatal to the case” as a result of Christopher Money and Christopher Berry’s defence groups would have been entitled to name him as a witness.
The DPP added: “This issue is compounded by the truth that drafts of the primary witness assertion, reviewed by us in July 2025, confirmed that references to China being an ‘enemy’ or ‘possible enemy’ had been deleted.
“Those drafts would probably have been disclosable to the defence.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
0:38
0:38What do we all know concerning the China spy case?
A remaining draft of Mr Collins’ assertion was despatched to then-prime minister Rishi Sunak in December 2023, Mr Powell’s letter stated.
“Drafts of a statement provided to DNSA included the term ‘enemy’ but he removed this term from the final draft as it did not reflect government policy,” the letter reads.
It comes amid a political row over the collapse of the prosecution of Christopher Berry and Christopher Money final month, who had been accused of conducting espionage for China.
Each people vehemently deny the claims.
As a result of the CPS was pursuing prices underneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act 1911, prosecutors would have needed to present the defendants had been performing for an “enemy”.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
2:09
2:09China spy row: Witness statements defined
DPP Mr Parkinson has come underneath stress to offer a fuller clarification for the abandonment of the case.
He has blamed inadequate proof being supplied by the federal government that Beijing represented a risk to the UK on the time of the alleged offences.
The Conservatives have accused Sir Keir Starmer of letting the case collapse, however Labour has stated there was nothing extra it might have completed.
The present authorities has insisted ministers didn’t intervene within the case or try to make representations to make sure the power of proof, for worry of interfering with the course of justice.
Picture:Sir Keir Starmer met Chinese language premier Xi Jingping in November 2024. Pic: PA
The DNSA and DPP will face questions from the parliamentary committee on Monday afternoon.
The present legal professional common, Lord Hermer, and the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Darren Jones, shall be questioned on Wednesday.
The PM’s spokesman reiterated the federal government’s place that “what is relevant in a criminal case of this nature is the government’s position at the time of the alleged offences”.
