UK state weakness is to blame for collapse of the alleged China spying case

The China spying row has revealed disturbing weaknesses in the processes of the UK state.

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It cannot be in the national interest for a case involving national security to get so close to the courts and then for it to be abandoned in what remain mysterious circumstances. Public confidence, as well as security itself, are placed at risk. But this important issue now risks being blanketed by the fog of the party-political battle at Westminster.

MPs traded accusations last week about whether the Conservatives or Labour are more to blame for the fiasco of last month’s collapsed prosecution. Politicians are fond of saying that the national interest comes before the party interest. But there has been too little evidence of that principle in the current dispute.