Badenoch Demands PM Address ‘Unanswered’ Questions Over Collapsed China Spy Case
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to come clean over the government’s role in the failed prosecution of two men accused of spying for China, warning of a possible cover-up in a case that has sparked national security concerns.
In a strongly-worded letter sent Sunday, Badenoch accused the government of “weakness” in the face of Beijing and raised serious questions about the role of senior officials, including the prime minister’s national security advisor, Jonathan Powell.
The controversy centers on the sudden collapse of charges against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, two men accused of violating the Official Secrets Act by passing information to Chinese operatives between December 2021 and February 2023. Both men have denied the allegations.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced in September that the case would not proceed due to an inability to secure necessary evidence—specifically material from the government that formally classified China as a national security threat.
Badenoch: “Worried That a Cover-Up Is Taking Place”
Speaking to broadcasters, Badenoch expressed alarm over the case’s abrupt end and what she sees as a lack of transparency from No. 10.
“I am worried that a cover-up is taking place,” she said. “I’ve seen information that contradicts the government’s position, and it’s imperative we get to the bottom of who knew what—and when.”
She singled out Jonathan Powell, calling for his resignation if it’s confirmed that he failed to provide the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with the materials needed to sustain the charges.
The government has denied Powell was involved in the case’s substance or evidentiary matters. However, Conservative MPs argue he withheld critical documents, effectively sabotaging the case.
Badenoch demanded clarity on whether ministers were aware of communications between the government and CPS in which the requested materials were reportedly refused. She also questioned whether the Prime Minister himself had been briefed on the matter by Powell.
Tugendhat: “Absolutely Abhorrent”
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who once employed one of the accused as a researcher, voiced his outrage on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, saying:
“It is absolutely abhorrent that this case has collapsed… It looks like the government is willing to cover up for the actions of a hostile state.”
Tugendhat insisted the ultimate responsibility lies with the Prime Minister, not his advisors, asserting that “it is the PM who orders—or does not order—special advisers to act.”
Government Under Pressure as Parliament Resumes
The row comes as Parliament reconvenes following a lengthy recess for party conferences. Cabinet Office Minister Dan Jarvis is expected to make a formal statement to MPs on Monday, addressing the mounting concerns.
Former Conservative ministers have added fuel to the debate, claiming that while there may not have been an official designation of China as a national threat, extensive intelligence on Chinese espionage was available at the time.
One former official pointed to the hack of the Ministry of Defence, widely believed to have been carried out by Chinese actors, and claimed the government possessed “hundreds” of examples of hostile Chinese activity.
“There’s no sane jury in the world that would look at this and conclude China was not a threat,” a former ministerial source said.
Former MI5 chief Ken McCallum had also publicly warned of a “sustained campaign” of Chinese espionage on a “pretty epic scale” in 2023, further underlining the perceived danger.
Opposition Faces Backlash
Badenoch accused the current Labour-led government of being “too weak to stand up to Beijing,” a sentiment echoed by other senior Conservatives. She suggested the administration may have misled Parliament and the public over its involvement in the trial’s collapse.
The Liberal Democrats have also criticized the government’s China policy but from a different angle, urging it to block the construction of a massive Chinese embassy in central London. The embassy site is located above critical data infrastructure, raising fears of large-scale surveillance.
“Allowing a super embassy in the heart of London risks enabling Chinese espionage on an industrial scale,” said Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller.
The Original Charges and Legal Context
Mr. Cash and Mr. Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act in April 2024, during the Conservative administration. The law stipulates that prosecution is only possible if the disclosed material is demonstrably useful to a foreign enemy.
According to the DPP’s statement last month, the case was dropped because the evidential threshold was no longer met—largely due to the absence of a formal classification of China as a threat.
This explanation has infuriated many MPs who insist the government had ample material at its disposal and failed to act.
What’s Next?
The government faces mounting pressure to clarify its role and release documents relating to the case. With national security on the line and cross-party concern growing, Monday’s parliamentary statement by Minister Dan Jarvis is expected to be closely scrutinized.
As the political fallout widens, questions remain over the UK’s posture toward China—and whether internal decisions have undermined national interests in one of the most serious espionage cases in recent memory
