Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, insisted the failure of the case was not ‘a question of blame’. Events
The Daily Mail has learnt that a single sentence, which appears to have been lifted almost word for word from Labour's 2024 manifesto, led to the China spy case collapsing. Economics
Two parliamentary inquiries will look into the abandoned trial. Events
Dispelling confusion about the collapsed case would build confidence that the government has a coherent policyNo single word describes the challenge that China poses for UK foreign policy. There is threat and opportunity; a requirement to engage and an imperative to be guarded. The Communist party in Beijing represses dissent and pursues its interests overseas with coercive nationalist determination. It is not a regime with which Britain can build a relationship based on common values.But China is also a superpower with near-monopoly control of some mineral resources and pre-eminence in important manufacturing supply chains. Trusting friendship is not an option; hostile rejection is unrealistic. It is not easy to manage relations through private diplomacy, let alone under public scrutiny. But Sir Keir Starmer’s government has looked especially awkward in its response to the collapse of a high-profile espionage case, involving the alleged transmission of secrets from inside parliamen... Events
Sir Keir Starmer made his announcement in a statement to the Commons before tetchy exchanges with Kemi Badenoch on the China spy trial collapse scandal Politics
Requests to release a key witness statement by the deputy national security adviser have been rejected after the Crown Prosecution Service said it would be 'inappropriate' outside of a courtroom. Politics
Lindsay Hoyle has announced he is reviewing security after the China spy trial collapse and seeking advice on what more can be done Politics
