Downing Street is blaming the Tories for its failure to designate China as an ‘enemy’ in court proceedings. Allowing a case for espionage against two individuals to collapse…
Starmer’s spokesman said the decision was made “entirely independent of government” and there was “no role for any government minister of member of government in this decision-making process.” He also blamed the previous Tory government:
“Government evidence in relation to this case is based on previous government policy that obviously was relevant at the time that the alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2023 and the previous government position on China is a matter of public record… hear James Cleverly saying it would be unwise to call China a ‘threat’ or ‘enemy’.“
Passing the buck…
The spokesman denied that there was a meeting in which National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell said China would not be classed as an enemy in submitted evidence. This is despite the Sunday Times reporting:
“Early last month, a meeting of senior Whitehall mandarins, including Jonathan Powell, the UK’s national security adviser, and Sir Oliver Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, met to discuss the trial. Powell revealed that the government’s star witness would be basing his evidence on a recently published official report: The National Security Strategy 2025. This document stops well short of referring to China as an “enemy” state, characterising it as a “challenge” instead.”
Is Downing Street’s truth problem rearing its head again…
