Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China: “This is the most shocking abrogation of national security responsibility in recent memory. Collapsing of a case of this severity and importance to avoid upsetting China is unforgivable, and nobody involved should be within a barge pole of anything related to national security ever again.” The decision to drop the case at the 11th hour has angered ministers and MPs, as well as the police.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory party leader who has been sanctioned by China, said he believed that the government had “ensured that there was no support for the case” so that the CPS was forced to drop it.
“Many of us are determined now to raise this again in parliament because we think the government has in essence lied to parliament over what actually happened.”
“I think Downing Street is a risk to national security at the moment… I really am embarrassed about this British government. They’re on bended knees to China.”
Last month, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, said that the collapse of the trial would send a green light to hostile states. “As Speaker, I take the security of this house incredibly seriously. I believe this leaves the door open to foreign actors trying to spy on the house. This door must be closed hard.”
Hoyle is now considering bringing a private prosecution against Cash and Berry and has met Lord Hermer KC, the attorney-general, to discuss his options for bringing forward a new case.
Hoyle: “The house, MPs and staff have been put at risk. We must explore all avenues to bring this to court. I will continue to fight and do everything we can to make sure this does not happen again. That’s why we look at how we can get this to court.”
The most generous explanation for the decision to withhold the most detailed intelligence is that evidence of the thawing relationship between the two countries would have undermined the case.
However, some cynics believe it shows that the government is willing to prioritise closer economic links to China over national security.
Peers have complained that senior Foreign Office officials met the Speakers of the Lords and the Commons this year to seek to persuade them to lift the ban on China’s ambassador to the UK entering parliament. In exchange, they would remove sanctions against a number of MPs and peers who are critical of China.
David Davis, a Tory former shadow Home Secretary: “Frankly, to put commercial interests ahead of the security of the House of Commons is a national disgrace. The way it was done was dishonest and dishonourable. We need to know precisely who took these decisions, and on what authority. They need to explain precisely how they imagine that meddling in our justice system was justified. And if their answers are not good enough, they should go.”
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