Spy Scandal Unraveled: MPs Press for Answers on Collapsed Case Against Alleged Chinese Spies

Mounting Pressure on the UK’s chief prosecutor is leading to a storm of scrutiny surrounding the recent collapse of a highly publicized case against two men accused of spying for China. MPs have called on Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, to provide a more comprehensive explanation as to why the charges against Christopher Cash, a parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, an academic, were dropped last month.

Parkinson attributed the case collapse to an insufficient amount of evidence presented by the government regarding China’s threat to UK national security. However, the issue has intensified since the government revealed witness statements detailing the risks posed by Beijing. In response, the chairs of four parliamentary committees have demanded answers from Parkinson by Friday next week and the likelihood of him testifying before MPs is high. In support, a joint national security committee is also initiating a formal inquiry.

Labour MP Matt Western, who heads one of the committees, expressed that there remain “many questions yet to be answered.” The intelligence and security committee has also opened a separate investigation focusing on the handling of classified material during the case.

The two accused were charged under the 1911 Official Secrets Act for allegedly gathering information detrimental to the state between December 2021 and February 2023. To prosecute under this act, evidence must show that the suspects disseminated information potentially useful to an enemy. In a letter to MPs, Parkinson clarified that a recent court ruling indicated that the definition of a threat to national security at the time of the alleged offenses must be proven, which the CPS concluded was not sufficiently supported by the government.

This incident has ignited controversy, particularly with Sir Keir Starmer, who voiced deep disappointment over the decision to discontinue the prosecutions. He took the unusual step of making government witness statements, highlighting that China engages in large-scale espionage targeting the UK and ranks as the biggest state-based threat to its economic security.

Parkinson’s comments during a meeting with senior MPs indicated that the government’s evidence fell just 5% short of what was necessary for a conviction, although many MPs are still questioning the rationale behind the CPS deeming the evidence insufficient. This controversy has thrust Parkinson, who recently assumed his role as director of public prosecutions, into a public dispute with ministers, especially given his previous critical remarks about Starmer’s tenure in the same position.