DOWNING Street admitted Sir Keir Starmer knew the Chinese spy trial was poised to collapse but did nothing.
The CPS required more evidence that Beijing was an enemy to press espionage charges against former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and teacher Christopher Berry.
No10 said yesterday the PM was made aware the case was on the brink in September but deemed it “inappropriate” to get involved.
Yesterday, he claimed he was “deeply disappointed” at its collapse and blamed the last Tory government for failing to declare China a threat.
But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch hit back: “The Prime Minister knew the China spying case was about to collapse and did nothing because he’s got no backbone.
“He’s too weak to stand up for our national security. A shameful dereliction of duty.”
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Witness statements from deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins had been deemed by the CPS as failing to explicitly brand China as a threat.
At PMQs yesterday, Sir Keir was accused of being dragged into finally releasing the statements, having previously refused.
The CPS also denied No10’s claims that it was preventing their publication.
Ms Badenoch said: “This all stinks of a cover-up”.
She added: “He’s blaming his civil servants, he’s blaming the media, he’s blaming the last government, he cannot explain why he could not see this case through.
“He should have seen this case through and, let me be clear, a serious case involving national security has collapsed because this government is too weak to stand up to China.”
Sir Keir yesterday said the alleged offences took place on the Tories’ watch so the evidence provided had to be from then.
The Tories want to see the minutes from a secret meeting with the Government’s top security official Jonathan Powell shortly before the case was dropped.
Sir Keir has insisted that there was “absolutely not” any political interference from Mr Powell — a Labour appointee — and accused Ms Badenoch of a “completely scurrilous allegation”.
