China Accused of Spying on Parliament, Amidst Dropped Case Against Suspected Agents - Concerns Raised over Beijing's Surveillance Privileges
In a surprising turn of events, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has decided to drop a case against Chris Cash and Chris Berry, who were accused of collecting information 'for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state'. The decision has raised concerns among MPs and senior figures in the House of Commons, who fear it could embolden hostile states to target parliamentarians.
The two individuals, both associated with the China Research Group, were arrested in 2023 and faced accusations of spying on MPs. The CPS took the decision to prosecute, but in a recent development, concluded that the evidential standard for the offence indicted is no longer met against former parliamentary aide Chris Cash, 30, and British teacher Chris Berry, 33.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Home Secretary have expressed their disheartening over the CPS decision, while Alicia Kearns, Tory security spokesman, is questioning why the case was dropped and demanding transparency from the CPS. Alicia Kearns also voiced her concern that the CPS may be gagged or refusing to be honest about the reasons for not proceeding with the case.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is considering launching a private prosecution against Mr Cash and Mr Berry, and he stated that the protection of members and people that work within the House of Commons must be ensured. Hoyle believes this decision leaves the door open to foreign actors trying to spy on the House of Commons.
The case has also raised concerns about other countries acting with immunity, with Sir Lindsay Hoyle writing to home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, expressing his concerns. There is a suspicion that the Government did not want the deputy national security adviser to give evidence, as he would have had to brand China an enemy as ministers rebuild relations.
The lack of explanation from the CPS for why the case was dropped has added to the concerns, with some fearing that this case may become another scandal where evidence takes decades to see the light of day. Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson stated that the CPS takes espionage very seriously, as offences targeting MPs threaten the democratic process and public service.
In light of these developments, the House of Commons is facing a challenging time, with MPs fearing that hostile states may be emboldened to target them. The concerns raised by the CPS decision are significant, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
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