In a political drama that has gripped Westminster and raised questions about the United Kingdom’s approach to national security, the government has published a series of witness statements detailing alleged Chinese espionage activities after the collapse of a high-profile spy trial. The case, which revolved around two British men accused of spying for China, ended abruptly in September 2025, prompting accusations of a cover-up, partisan finger-pointing, and renewed scrutiny of the UK’s relationship with Beijing.
The saga began with the arrest of Christopher Cash, a 29-year-old former parliamentary researcher with ties to Conservative MPs Tom Tugendhat and Alicia Kearns, and Christopher Berry, a 32-year-old teacher. Both men were charged under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing sensitive information to a Chinese state agent named "Alex" between December 2021 and February 2023. According to BBC News, the charges were based on assessments by counter-terrorism police, who believed Berry had been recruited by the Chinese state and had directed Cash—who had access to the Commons China Research Group and several MPs—to provide information.
Details from the investigation revealed that Berry met with a senior Chinese Communist Party official in July 2022, and that Cash was made aware of this meeting. In one exchange, Cash reportedly messaged Berry, "You're in spy territory now." Information gathered by the pair was allegedly passed to "Alex," believed to be a Chinese intelligence handler. The allegations included the prospect of Tom Tugendhat MP being made a minister and the likelihood of Jeremy Hunt withdrawing from the Conservative leadership race.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, both Cash and Berry have consistently denied any wrongdoing. On October 15, 2025, Cash publicly declared, "I am completely innocent. I have been placed in an impossible position. I have not had the daylight of a public trial to show my innocence, and I should not have to take part in a trial by media. The statements that have been made public are completely devoid of the context that would have been given at trial." Berry has also denied spying for China, though he has not commented since the case ended.
The trial’s collapse in September 2025 was attributed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to a lack of evidence from the government explicitly labeling China as a national security threat at the time of the alleged offences. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson explained, "Attempts to get more evidence from the government over many months proved unfruitful." The precedent set by a separate spying case earlier in the year meant that, for prosecution to proceed, the government needed to have officially designated China as a "threat to national security" during the relevant period—something that had not been done.
In response to mounting pressure from opposition parties and the media, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced during Prime Minister’s Questions on October 15, 2025, that the government would publish the witness statements submitted as part of the case. Starmer insisted that accusations of a cover-up were a "red herring," and sought to shift blame to the previous Conservative government, stating, "If the Conservatives had acted more quickly in updating our legislation, this wouldn’t have happened." He further emphasized that "under this government, no minister or special adviser played any role in the provision of evidence."
The three witness statements, authored by Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins, span from December 2023 to August 2025 and chronicle the evolving assessment of the Chinese espionage threat. In the first statement, Collins warned of "large scale espionage operations against the UK and other international partners to advance the Chinese state's interest and harm the interests and security of the UK." By February 2025, he described China as "an authoritarian state, with different values to the UK," and asserted, "China also presents the biggest state-based threat to the UK's economic security." The third statement, dated August 2025, reaffirmed the ongoing threat, stating, "China's espionage operations threaten the UK's economic prosperity and resilience, and the integrity of our democratic institutions."
Despite these grave warnings, the statements also reflected the government’s desire to maintain a constructive relationship with China. Collins noted, "It is important for me to emphasise, however, that the government is committed to pursuing a positive economic relationship with China. The government believes that the UK must continue to engage with international partners on trade and investment to grow our economy while ensuring that our security and values are not compromised." This dual approach was echoed in the Labour manifesto and restated in the August 2025 statement: "We will co-operate where we can; compete where we need to; and challenge where we must, including on issues of national security."
The publication of the witness statements has done little to quell political controversy. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of being "too weak to stand up to Beijing on a crucial matter of national security" and of seeking to "appease China." Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip demanded full transparency, urging the release of all related correspondence. The Liberal Democrats, too, have called for a statutory inquiry, with foreign affairs spokesperson Callum Miller arguing, "Failure to come clean will only confirm public suspicions of a cover-up and that ministers are more concerned about cosying up to China than protecting our national security."
Adding to the complexity, the CPS clarified that it would not prevent the government from releasing the statements, contradicting earlier suggestions from senior government figures that publication would be "inappropriate." According to Sky News, several Commons committees are now likely to launch their own inquiries into the matter, seeking to determine whether the government’s emphasis on a positive relationship with China effectively caused the trial to collapse.
The case has highlighted the delicate balancing act faced by successive UK governments: protecting national security while maintaining economic ties with an increasingly assertive China. Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summed up the dilemma, stating, "It is impossible, impractical, and most importantly unwise to sum up China as a threat in a single word." Even as former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove cautioned about "hostile cyber activity, crucial support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, and spying on Parliament," others pointed to the importance of engagement and cooperation where possible.
In the aftermath, Christopher Cash has expressed both relief at the end of the ordeal and frustration at the lack of a public trial to clear his name. Berry, through his lawyer, has voiced similar concerns. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in London has dismissed all allegations, urging British officials to "stop this kind of self-staged anti-China political farce."
For now, the publication of the witness statements may have answered some questions, but it has also raised many more about the UK’s capacity—and willingness—to confront espionage threats from powerful international actors while navigating the complexities of global diplomacy and domestic politics.
