Starmer says evidence in collapsed China spy case will be published

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to release the witness statements provided by Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Collins in the collapsed China spy case. The case involved two individuals accused of passing secrets to China, but charges were dropped because the evidence did not demonstrate a threat to national security at the time of the alleged offenses. Starmer stated that the evidence was prepared under the previous Conservative government, which had carefully worded its reviews to avoid labeling China as an enemy. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Starmer, accusing him of obfuscation and attempting to deny that the former government classified China as a threat. Starmer countered that the substantive evidence was provided in 2023 by the previous administration and that he intends to publish it in full after a brief review process. Government sources initially claimed the Crown Prosecution Service was obstructing the release of evidence, but the CPS clarified that the decision rested with the government. Starmer emphasized that no minister or special adviser... download the app to read more