Former security minister Tom Tugendhat has criticized Labour’s rationale for the collapse of a high-profile China spy trial, describing their explanation as “total rubbish,” reports BritPanorama.
Tugendhat contended that the government’s inability to present a civil servant to testify that China posed a national security threat was a “political decision.” His remarks follow the trial’s recent failure, which persisted largely due to key witness statements that could not substantiate claims of a security threat from Beijing.
In comments directed at Labour leader Keir Starmer, Tugendhat stated, “He’s not actually blaming us – he’s blaming the intelligence services and the police.” He highlighted the implications of Labour’s accountability in handling the legal proceedings surrounding this significant espionage case.
Reinforcing his points, Tugendhat referred to his own remarks made in Parliament in April 2024, where he identified China as a “principal national security threat.” He alleged that a dossier, confirming China’s threat to the UK, exists within Whitehall, ready for presentation in court.
According to Tugendhat, this dossier allegedly includes details of overseas police stations, harassment of Hong Kong nationals in the UK, incidents of industrial espionage, and even evidence of cyberattacks against the Ministry of Defence.
Tugendhat insisted, “We have got this in black and white,” emphasizing the documented evidence pertinent to the prosecution.
The case against Christopher Berry and Chris Cash, both charged under the Official Secrets Act, was dismissed after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, stated that subsequent witness statements failed to establish that China posed a real threat at the time of the alleged offenses, leading to a collapse of the case on September 15.
Parkinson’s comments ignited political tensions, with Prime Minister Starmer asserting that the former Tory government’s failure to classify China as a threat precluded Labour from retroactively designating it as such.
Starmer maintained, “What matters is what the designation was in 2023, because that’s when the offence was committed.” He asserted that prosecuting individuals based on a designation made years later is not feasible.
The espionage charges against Berry and Cash have drawn considerable public attention, as both men have denied wrongdoing. They were accused of sharing sensitive information that could have potentially benefited a foreign adversary.
The controversy surrounding this trial encapsulates broader concerns about national security and the UK’s response to potential threats, particularly in the context of China’s increasing global influence.
