"Powell's appearance will mark the end of a year-long standoff between the committee and ministers, who refused for months to make him available for scrutiny before parliament. The prime minister's spokesperson said on Monday that Powell takes his accountability responsibilities very seriously. The committee, chaired by Labour MP Matt Western, is in discussions with officials over the date of the hearing."
"The trial of Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary aide, and Christopher Berry was due to begin this month but was suddenly dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on 15 September. Both men denied the charges. Prosecutors said that they could not proceed because the evidential standard was no longer met. Downing Street strongly denied suggestions that government interference was behind this move on Monday."
Jonathan Powell, national security adviser to Keir Starmer, will appear before the joint committee on the national security strategy after a year-long standoff with ministers. The private hearing will question Powell about the abandonment of a major Chinese spying case and broader government national security approaches. The committee includes select committee chairs and peers and is arranging a date with officials. The Intelligence and Security Committee expects to receive information on the case for its regular scrutiny. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry on 15 September, citing insufficient evidential standard, which Downing Street denies resulted from government interference.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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