
"The young parliamentary researcher, then in his late 20s, was a China specialist working successively for two influential backbenchers, Tom Tugendhat and Alicia Kearns. He had a parliamentary pass and was plugged into Westminster's gossip network during 2022, a year of Conservative turmoil in Westminster, three prime ministers and future policy uncertainty. At the same time, Cash was in close contact with a friend, Christopher Berry, a teacher based in Hangzhou, eastern China, where the Britons had first met five years earlier."
"They discussed politics constantly, using an encrypted app. At one point, on 18 July, Berry allegedly told him he had met a senior Chinese Communist party leader (though he now denies meeting anybody of that rank). In a reply the next day, Cash said: You're in spy territory now. It was one of many voice notes and messages sent between the two that were recovered by the Met police's elite SO15 unit, best known for its counter-terror work."
"Cash and Berry were arrested in March 2023, accused of spying for China, and charged in April 2024. They denied the charges and have continued to assert their innocence. Last month, the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, raising questions about the prosecutors' decision and prompting a political row. Yet, little was known about the allegations once faced by the two men until Downing Street published a witness statement, as part of a wider effort by Labour to draw a line under the"
Christopher Cash was a young parliamentary researcher and China specialist with access to Westminster networks while working for Tom Tugendhat and Alicia Kearns. Cash maintained frequent encrypted contact with Christopher Berry, a teacher in Hangzhou, and exchanged voice notes and messages about politics. Berry allegedly claimed to have met a senior Chinese Communist party leader; Cash warned that Berry was "in spy territory." The messages were recovered by the Met police's SO15 unit. Berry was alleged to have been tasked by a Chinese spy known as Alex; Cash allegedly acted as a sub-source. Cash and Berry were arrested in March 2023, charged in April 2024, denied the allegations, and saw the case dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, prompting scrutiny and political controversy.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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