Keir Starmer has been keen to improve relations with China.Keir Starmer has come out fighting over claims his government deliberately sabotaged a spy trial to avoid harming the UK’s relations with China.The prime minister’s official spokesman said it was “entirely false” to suggest No.10 had failed to fully co-operate with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry.The men had denied spying for China and were due to stand trial under the Official Secrets Act, but it collapsed last month.Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson revealed that his team had tried “over many months” to get the evidence it needed against the men, but it had not been forthcoming from the government.“When this became apparent, the case could not proceed,” he said.Opposition parties have accused the government of deliberately obstructing the case to avoid harming relations between the UK and China.But at a Downing Street briefing for journalists on Monday, the PM’s spokesman hit back at those claims.He said: “It is entirely false. The CPS decision to drop the case was entirely a matter for the CPS.“There was no role for any member of this government, no minister, or special adviser, to take any decision in relation to this case. That is entirely for the CPS.”Securing a conviction against the men would have required proving China was an “enemy” as stated in the Official Secrets Act.Starmer has previously insisted that as the alleged offences took place under the previous Conservative government, that administration’s approach to China had to be considered in courtroom evidence.The Tories at the time – including current leader, Kemi Badenoch – declined to describe China as a threat.The PM’s spokesman insisted that Labour had toughened up the UK’s approach to China since coming to office last July.He said: “The national security strategy published in June was clear that China has potentially huge consequences for lives of British citizens. There are, of course, major areas such as human rights and cyber security, where there are stark differences.”“Successive governments have said that China can’t be reduced to a single word,” the spokesman said, adding that Beijing presents threat, challenge and opportunity for the UK.Related...Keir Starmer Is Under Fire After The Trial Of 2 Men Accused Of Spying For China Collapsed. Here s WhyBlow For Keir Starmer As China Slams His Trade Deal With Donald TrumpDowning Street Hits Back At Trump Tariff Chief s Claim UK Is China s Compliant Servant
Monday 13 October 2025
huffingtonpost - 3 hours ago
Keir Starmer Comes Out Fighting Over Claims No.10 Sabotaged Chinese Spying Trial


Elliot Page Is Overjoyed At Reuniting With Christopher Nolan For The First Time Since His Transition In The Odyssey
- huffingtonpost
I Spent 30 Years Trying To Be The Right Kind Of Black Woman At Work. It Almost Killed Me.
- huffingtonpost
Taylor Swift s Eras Tour Series and Final Show Film Coming to Disney Plus: Everything You Need to Know
- cnet.com
Vitamin D Supplements May Weaken Your Immune System, But Only If You Take This Type
- huffingtonpost
Putin Ally Makes Nuclear Threat After Donald Trump Hints US Could Give Ukraine Tomahawk Missiles
- huffingtonpost
Miriam Margolyes Opens Up About Losing Friends And Family Due To Her Vocal Support Of Palestine
- huffingtonpost
Bridgerton Season 4 Release Date: Here s How Long Fans Have To Wait Until The New Episodes
- huffingtonpost
Conversational Editing in Google Photos Lets Anyone Edit Like a Pro With Just Their Voice
- cnet.com
Joy, relief and long-awaited phone calls as hostages’ families greet their loved ones.
- nytimes.com
I Found The Perfect Surgeon To Do My Tummy Tuck – But I Couldn t Stop Thinking About 1 Thing
- huffingtonpost
Rebecca Ferguson Insists She s Not The Only One Who Had A Sh**ty Time With Co-Star Who Screamed At Her
- huffingtonpost
Trump Has Not Ruled Out Invoking Insurrection Act to Deploy National Guard, Vance Says
- nytimes.com
I Asked 2 Doctors How To Boost Your Immune System, And They Both Said The Same Thing
- huffingtonpost
Israel And Hamas Have Agreed To The First Stage Of Trump s Gaza Peace Plan. Here s What You Need To Know
- huffingtonpost
He s Gonna Have A Meltdown : Internet Reacts After Donald Trump Fails To Win Nobel Peace Prize
- huffingtonpost
EcoFlow Recalls 25,000 Delta Max 2000 Power Stations Over Fire and Burn Hazard — Here’s How to Fix Yours
- cnet.com
Stock news for investors: Cineplex and Aritzia post strong results despite industry headwinds
- moneysense.ca
‘I have control of your airway’: Montreal teen hailed as hero after tackling burglar
- globalnews.ca
BBC Expert Says The Israel-Palestine Conflict Will Continue Despite Trump s Peace Plan
- huffingtonpost
It s Quietly Weighing On Us : Can Finances Ever Feel Fair When One Of You Earns More?
- huffingtonpost
Portugal vs. Republic of Ireland: Livestream World Cup 2026 Qualifier Soccer From Anywhere
- cnet.com