A shocking revelation has emerged in the ongoing controversy surrounding a collapsed espionage case against two individuals accused of spying for China. The education secretary has stated that a key security adviser, Jonathan Powell, played no part in the evidence or substance of the case.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Conservatives are pointing fingers at Powell, suggesting he withheld crucial evidence from prosecutors, which could have secured convictions. Charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were dropped last month, leaving ministers and MPs frustrated and seeking answers.
When asked about Powell's involvement, Bridget Phillipson assured the BBC that he had no conversations regarding the case's substance or evidence. She expressed deep disappointment over the case's collapse and directed the blame towards the Crown Prosecution Service, stating they are best equipped to explain the reasons for the trial's failure.
Downing Street, however, maintains that ministers were not involved in the case's collapse. Yet, in a surprising move, the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, revealed that the trial collapsed because the government failed to provide evidence labeling China as a national security threat.
The Conservatives have submitted an urgent question in Parliament, demanding ministers explain the trial's collapse to MPs on Monday. They believe Powell, who has advocated for closer ties with Beijing, did not provide the necessary evidence to the CPS.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called on ministers to urgently explain why they chose not to disclose the extensive information demonstrating China's threat to national security during the 2021-2023 period. He even went as far as suggesting that Powell should resign if he was indeed behind this decision.
The prime minister, however, defended the government's position, stating that they could only rely on the previous Conservative's stance, which labeled China an "epoch-defining challenge." He emphasized the need to prosecute based on the circumstances at the time of the alleged offense, shifting the focus to the Tory government's policy during that period.
Several former Conservative ministers and advisers have confirmed to the BBC that there was no official designation of whether a country poses a threat. They claim there exists a document with "hundreds" of examples of Chinese activities that threatened the UK at the time of the alleged offenses, which could have been used as evidence.
Sources cited the hack on the Ministry of Defence, which ministers suspected China was behind, as one of many incidents. A source from the last government stated, "I don't think there is a sane jury in the world that would look at that evidence and conclude China was not a threat."
Former Conservative ministers also highlighted public statements, including those from the former head of MI5, Ken McCallum, who in 2023 described a "sustained campaign" of Chinese espionage on a "pretty epic scale."
The Liberal Democrats criticized the government's approach to China, stating it puts national security at risk. They urged the government to block the planning application for a new Chinese embassy in London, arguing that it would enable Chinese espionage on an industrial scale.
Mr. Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Mr. Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act in April 2024, during the Conservative's rule. They were accused of gathering and providing information detrimental to the state's safety and interests between December 2021 and February 2023.
Under the Official Secrets Act, spying accusations can only lead to prosecution if the information passed on was useful to an enemy. Last month, the director of public prosecutions announced that the case could no longer proceed to trial since the evidence failed to meet the evidential test.
This case has sparked a heated debate, with many questions left unanswered. What role did Jonathan Powell truly play? Why was crucial evidence withheld? And most importantly, how will this impact the UK's relationship with China? Join the discussion and share your thoughts in the comments below!
