"The government does seem to have painted itself into a corner over the release of witness statements related to the case. Suggesting that the Crown Prosecution Service was stopping their release, only for the CPS to say they weren't, makes it very awkward to do anything other than publish them. At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer clarified that the government would do just that."
"There is an additional question, though, over whether the statements will really change anything. Unless they show something radically different to the situation that has so far been discussed, the central allegation here hasn't been that the government toned down evidence, but that it perhaps could have provided more and chose not to. The government maintains that's not the case and the publication of the statements may not shed any more light on that."
"Barring any surprises, it is unlikely to draw a line under this story - for the government or for those asking the questions. The Conservatives have been keen to keep up the pressure. There is danger though. The government's response throughout this has been to claim it was the Conservatives' position on China and the state of legislation which they did not change that is to blame."
The case of two men accused of spying for China collapsed and continues to fuel political controversy. The government faced pressure over whether to release witness statements and was accused of suggesting the Crown Prosecution Service had blocked their publication. The CPS denied doing so, prompting a pledge to publish the documents after the prime minister saw them for the first time on the morning of Prime Minister's Questions. Questions remain about whether the statements will materially change understanding, since allegations centre on whether the government could have provided more information rather than having toned down evidence. The documents could shift scrutiny toward the CPS.
Read at www.bbc.com
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