MPs to hold inquiry into collapsed China spy case after No 10 publishes key evidence

"MPs will hold an inquiry into the collapse of a trial of two men accused of spying for China, after No 10 published key evidence in an attempt to draw a line under the row. Matt Western, a Labour MP and chair of the joint committee on the national security strategy, told the House of Commons there are a lot of questions yet to be asked and announced a formal inquiry."

"Ministers published the three witness statements submitted to prosecutors by the deputy national security adviser, Matthew Collins, late on Wednesday after accusations they had interfered with the trial to protect the UK's trading relationship with China. Ministers said on Thursday that the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, should now explain why he felt he could not proceed with the trial."

"Chris Ward, a Cabinet Office minister, said the decision to abandon the trial was taken purely by the Crown Prosecution Service and that Collins's statements demonstrate he took significant strides to articulate the threat of China in support of the prosecution. Conservative MPs said the third and final statement submitted by Collins in August reflected the Labour government's approach to China, directly mirroring language in the party's manifesto."

MPs will hold a formal inquiry into the collapse of a trial involving two men accused of spying for China. Charges against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, were dropped after prosecutors said the government had not provided evidence that China represented a threat to UK national security. Ministers published three witness statements from deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins amid accusations of trial interference to protect the UK's trading relationship with China. Ministers asked the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, to explain why the Crown Prosecution Service could not proceed. Ministers said Collins acted without interference while Conservative MPs said his language mirrored the Labour party manifesto.

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