PM's national security adviser 'played no role in collapse of case'

SIR Keir Starmer's national security adviser played no role in the collapse of a prosecution against two alleged Chinese spies and has the Prime Minister's full confidence, a Cabinet minister has said.

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Jonathan Powell was not involved in discussions about the "substance or the evidence" of the case, Bridget Phillipson said, amid mounting scrutiny over the decision to drop the charges.

Britain's most senior prosecutor said the case collapsed because evidence describing China as a national security threat could not be obtained from Sir Keir's administration.