Prosecutions director must explain why China spy case was dropped, says UK minister

Stephen Kinnock says government is ‘deeply disappointed’ CPS abandoned prosecution

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Questions for CPS after No 10 publishes key witness statements in China spy row

The director of public prosecutions should explain why he felt he could not proceed with the trial of two men accused of spying for China, a government minister has said after No 10 published key evidence in an attempt to draw a line under the row.

Stephen Kinnock said the government was “deeply disappointed that the prosecution didn’t go ahead” and that Stephen Parkinson was “the best person to explain” why the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) felt the government’s evidence did not meet the bar.