THE Home Secretary has denied that Labour officials were behind the collapse of a Chinese spying trial.
Shabana Mahmood said she was “very disappointed” that the prosecution withdrew the case of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry.
Both men – the former a parliamentary researcher – were accused of passing information to Beijing, which they deny.
But it has been claimed that Downing Street’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell stopped the prosecution, branding China an “enemy”.
Labour has been cosying up to Beijing, with senior ministers visiting the country to forge closer relations.
Ms Mahmood says she was not aware of any such involvement and insisted she wanted the trial to go ahead.
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But Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: “This case alleged the most serious breach of parliamentary security anyone can remember.
“If spies are walking free because a cabal of officials and special advisors deliberately caused the case to collapse, those responsible need to face an inquiry and be discharged from office.
“The public deserves answers.”
