Keir Starmer defended the government’s role in a significant Chinese spying case that was dropped last month. The case against former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry was suddenly dismissed by the Crown Prosecution Service on September 15, with Downing Street expressing disappointment at the decision.
To establish the case under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors needed to demonstrate that the defendants were working for an “enemy.” Starmer, on Tuesday, supported the government’s stance, emphasizing that the decision to label China as a threat would have been made during the previous administration.
While speaking to reporters in India, Starmer clarified that the designation in 2023 was crucial as it pertained to when the offense occurred. He explained that the statements were based on the government’s policy at the time and could not be altered retroactively.
Responding to inquiries about being briefed on the government’s perspective, Starmer confirmed that he was receiving updates on the matter as expected. This came after Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, wrote to senior MPs regarding the case involving Cash and Berry, expressing satisfaction with the CPS charging decision in April 2024 under the 1911 Official Secrets Act.
Parkinson noted that subsequent efforts to gather evidence over several months proved fruitless. Despite additional witness statements, none indicated that China posed a threat to national security at the time of the offense. By late August 2025, it became evident that the necessary evidence could not be obtained, leading to the case’s discontinuation.
The government denied allegations of interference in the case’s collapse earlier in the week, while Cash and Berry maintained their innocence.
