No 10 moves to end China spy row but threat of further fallout lingers

"When Keir Starmer finally read the witness statement from his deputy national security adviser for the trial of two British men accused of spying for China, some of his frustration about the collapse of the case began to dissipate. His government had been besieged by the Tories for two weeks over its role, being accused of secretly sabotaging the trial, blocking key witnesses and hiding behind process, all to avoid having to tell a court that China was an enemy."

"The final statement said the UK wanted a positive relationship with China and would follow a three Cs approach cooperation, competition, but also challenge where we must, including on issues of national security. Yet this was submitted in August, and despite No 10 suggesting any evidence would only refer to the government's position at the time of the alleged spying the three Cs approach was clearly Labour policy."

"Just 24 hours earlier, Chris Wormald, the cabinet secretary, decided not to release the witness statement because prosecutors had argued it would be inappropriate to do so outside a courtroom. Yet by Tuesday evening the Crown Prosecution Service had changed its mind. Now senior government figures are hopeful the evidence will help to draw a line under what is a complex legal controversy, and one which they argue could have been avoided had the Tories fixed flaws in the Official Secrets Act when in power."

Keir Starmer read a witness statement from the deputy national security adviser and felt some frustration about the case collapse dissipate. The government faced two weeks of Tory accusations that it had secretly sabotaged the trial, blocked key witnesses and avoided telling a court that China was an enemy. No 10 published three witness statements from Matthew Collins, one produced under Rishi Sunak and two under Starmer. The statements described China as an epoch-defining challenge and outlined a three Cs approach: cooperation, competition and challenge, including on national security. The CPS initially resisted release but later agreed. Senior figures hope the evidence will draw a line under the controversy and argue the dispute could have been avoided had the Tories reformed the Official Secrets Act. Downing Street accuses Kemi Badenoch of overreach.

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