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The call for transparency continues as the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats urge the Labour government to release the evidence in the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, who were accused of spying for China. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has stated that they would not object if the evidence was made public, contrary to previous statements suggesting it would be inappropriate. The CPS unexpectedly dropped the case against Cash and Berry last month, leading to criticism from ministers and MPs, despite both men denying the allegations.
The dispute emerged within the context of three witness statements submitted by Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins, focusing on whether China was considered a threat during the alleged offenses under the previous Conservative government. The CPS clarified that the statements were provided for criminal proceedings that are now concluded, leaving the decision to release the content to the government. Cash and Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act in April 2024, during the Conservative government’s tenure, for allegedly gathering and providing information detrimental to the state’s safety and interests.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp emphasized the need for the immediate release of Collins’s witness statements to ensure transparency. He highlighted that as the evidence would have been subject to cross-examination in court, it should not be kept confidential. Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller echoed the sentiment, urging the government to disclose the full witness statements. Failure to do so, he argued, would only fuel suspicions of a cover-up and raise concerns about prioritizing relations with China over national security. In response to the case, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote to the prime minister, expressing concerns about unanswered questions and accusing Sir Keir Starmer of weakness in addressing matters of national security vis-a-vis China
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