Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe trial of two men accused of spying for China collapsed after the government declined to officially label Beijing a threat to national security. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said that the Crown Prosecution Service could not obtain the necessary evidence from the Labour government to proceed with the prosecution. Sir Keir Starmer attributed the collapse to the stance of the previous Conservative administration, arguing the trial would have been based on the situation at that time. Simon Case, a former Cabinet Secretary, challenged Sir Keir's explanation, highlighting that intelligence chiefs have publicly described China as a threat for years. Critics suggested the government's failure to provide evidence might be motivated by a desire to avoid upsetting China, rather than a lack of available information. In fullFormer top civil servant questions Starmer over China spy trial collapseThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Starmer challenged over China spy trial collapse
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe trial of two men accused of spying for China collapsed after the government declined to officially label Beijing a threat to national security. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said that the Crown Prosecution Service could not obtain the necessary evidence from the Labour government to proceed with the prosecution. Sir Keir Starmer attributed the collapse to the stance of the previous Conservative administration, arguing the trial would have been based on the situation at that time. Simon Case, a former Cabinet Secretary, challenged Sir Keir's explanation, highlighting that intelligence chiefs have publicly described China as a threat for years. Critics suggested the government's failure to provide evidence might be motivated by a desire to avoid upsetting China, rather than a lack of available information. In fullFormer top civil servant questions Starmer over China spy trial collapseThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
