UK Government in Turmoil After Espionage Case Against Two Men Is Dropped
Image: A view of the UK Parliament or a symbolic image representing espionage and national security.
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By Cécile Ducourtieux, London
Summary: Prosecutors said they had to abandon a high-profile espionage case because ministers would not confirm that China constituted a national-security threat at the time of the alleged offences. The decision has provoked a fierce political blame game in Westminster.
Why the trial collapsed
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it withdrew charges in September 2025 against two men accused of passing sensitive information to agents linked to China because it could not secure a government assertion that China represented a threat to UK national security during the period under investigation. The director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, told MPs his office had sought such evidence "over many months" but that it was not supplied.
The accused and the allegations
The defendants — Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33 — were arrested in March 2023 and charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act. They denied the allegations. Prosecutors said the decision to drop the case followed legal and evidential difficulties, including questions about whether the necessary legal threshold under the 1911 Act could be met.
Political fallout
The collapse of the case has triggered sharp exchanges between the current Labour government and the Conservatives, with each side blaming the other. Labour ministers have pointed to the position of the previous Conservative government during the period when the alleged offences occurred, while Conservative politicians and some former officials have accused the current administration of failing to provide prosecutors with the required evidence. Legal experts have also disagreed about whether a formal "enemy" designation is legally required for prosecution.
Experts and reaction
Former senior civil servants and national security figures have expressed bewilderment at the way the case ended, saying it raises questions about how Britain handles complex espionage allegations involving state actors. Others have pointed to recent case law that tightened evidential standards for prosecutions under the Official Secrets Act.
What happens next
The CPS said it must apply the law as it stands and only proceed where evidence meets legal thresholds. Parliamentary scrutiny of the decision—and of how ministers handled requests from prosecutors—looks set to continue as MPs seek answers about what evidence was, or was not, shared. The wider debate over the UK's posture toward China and how to balance security concerns with diplomatic considerations will also remain at the forefront.
Sources
- Reporting and analysis from The Guardian.
- Coverage and explainer from Sky News.
- PBS NewsHour coverage of the CPS explanation.
- Wall Street Journal reporting on the political reaction.
- Commentary and reaction in The Times.
