Now that Richard Hermer has defended the CPS at the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy this morning Labour has just about issued every possible line on the China Spy Case’s collapse. A blame game that contradicts itself…
Here is everyone Labour blamed, apart from itself:
- The Tories: Starmer blames the last government on 15 October for DNSA’s failure to describe China as an enemy: “the case was charged under the last Government, according to the evidence submitted under that Government, who set out their policy position. What was on issue in the trial is not the position of the current Government, but the position of the last Government.” This was countered by the DPP on 24 October who said “the test was therefore positively not what the then Government was prepared to, or did, say in public about China but rather whether China was – as a matter of fact – an active threat to national security”…
- The CPS: Labour claimed the decision to drop charges was “entirely for the CPS.” Hermer claimed on 23 October that the CPS told him not to inform ministers about the case’s impending collapse. This was countered by the DPP who on the same day said “I met with the Cabinet Secretary and likewise informed him of the decision and the reasons for it. It was agreed that he might inform a limited group, including some ministers…”
- The Deputy National Security Adviser: Badenoch asked whether only one man – the DNSA – had anything to do with the collapse. Starmer said: “Yes and let me explain why…“Countered by the DPP who said the CPS and a Cabinet Office civil servant in July had an initial discussion “as to what the DNSA would and would not be able to say”…
- The previous evidence submissions: Starmer said on 15 October: “the final statement in this case was submitted in August 2025. There was no further submission of evidence, one way or the other, after any discussion in September.” Countered by the DPP who confirmed that the CPS met with the DNSA in September to see if any more evidence could be submitted to no avail: “He would be unable to say it was an explicit threat, but it would not be a ‘no’. If counsel were to ask anything outside the four corners of the statements, the DNSA would not go there”…
- The Official Secrets Act: By 29 October Richard Hermer was defending the CPS which was now working in “good faith.” The real culprit: “I’m clear in my mind that certainly one very significant problem here was the Act. The Act wasn’t fit for purpose, it was out of date.” Blowing up all the previous apportions of blame…
Studious work from Badenoch at PMQs forced Starmer to give out defensive lines which have since fallen apart. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says the PM’s “weak government has dodged, distracted and lied in a desperate attempt to avoid accountability for two alleged Chinese spies walking free on their watch.” Hence the ensuing strategy of making the story so complicated Lobby hacks leave it alone lest their brains explode…
