"At 12 pages, it is the longest, it was written in December 2023, and it sets out in detail the case against the two accused. Collins admits that none of the material passed on was protectively marked (ie, officially classified as secret), and the document makes it clear that the spying allegations (that the two accused have always denied) are not remotely in the Philby, Burgess and Maclean category. But Collins says their alleged activities were prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK."
"The second document is here. It is dated February 2024, but apparently that is a mistake and it was submitted in February this year. It runs to three pages and it gives more information about the Chinese threat to the UK, and the identity of the senior CCP (Chinese communist party) who was allegedly the ultimate recipient of the information."
"It was submitted in August this year and it sets out the government assessment of the threat posed by China, mostly quoting from reports published by the last government (in power when the alleged offences were committed), but with a final paragraph that sets out the Labour government's view on China. It describes the policy using language from Labour's manifesto."
No 10 released three witness statements by Matthew Collins about two men accused of spying for China. The first, 12 pages from December 2023, sets out the case and notes none of the material was protectively marked, while asserting the alleged activities were prejudicial to UK safety or interests and not comparable to Philby, Burgess and Maclean. The second, dated February but submitted this year, runs three pages and gives more information on the Chinese threat and the senior CCP recipient. The final, submitted in August, presents the government assessment of the China threat and quotes Labour manifesto language with an added national security caveat. Conservatives allege ministerial or official intervention to influence the CPS.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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