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Home Office minister Dan Jarvis (Labour) has told Conservatives to "stop throwing mud" over the collapsed China spying case. He defended the Government against Opposition claims that ministers interfered in the prosecution of two men accused of passing secrets to Beijing.
Jarvis told MPs that neither the Prime Minister nor any other minister could have changed the outcome of the case. He emphasised that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) made an "entirely independent decision" to discontinue proceedings without outside pressure.
The CPS dropped charges against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry in September. Both men deny wrongdoing and had been due to face trial just one month later.
Conservative accusations
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp (Conservative) accused the current Government of weakening the evidence against the defendants. He cited a statement from Matt Collins in August which referenced Labour's manifesto and "stressed the importance the current Government attaches to a positive relationship with China".
Philp argued this brought current Government policy into the case, contradicting previous claims that all evidence related to the former administration's approach. He said this development had "weakening the evidence compared to 2023".
Government pushback
Jarvis rejected the allegations, stating: "The Prime Minister has confirmed that no Labour ministers, or special advisers, were involved with the provision of evidence for this case." He challenged Conservatives to clarify whether any of their ministers or advisers had been involved under the previous government.
The minister suggested Opposition members needed "some humility" to acknowledge their role, noting the alleged activities occurred "on their watch when they were in government". He emphasised that the events took place under legislation from that time.
Parliamentary response
MPs have demanded Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson provide "a fuller explanation for the dropping of charges". Parkinson blamed insufficient evidence that China represented a threat to the UK during the period of alleged offences.
Two parliamentary inquiries will examine the collapsed trial. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he was seeking "specialist legal advice" about the case and MP security, working with the Lord Speaker on potential further steps.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith highlighted the personal impact on parliamentarians. He told MPs: "I am a sanctioned member of this Parliament. I have been spied upon, and I have had a 'wolf warrior' from China follow me around and impersonate me around the world very threateningly."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
