Tories' statements on China 'would have been used to dismiss spy case'

Defence lawyers would have used Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly's statements about China to dismiss a case against two men charged with spying for Beijing, the attorney general has argued.

- Eleni Courea

Richard Hermer told parliament "there would have been plenty of reference" by lawyers defending Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry to Conservative ministers' policy positions had the trial gone ahead.

The attorney general was giving evidence on the collapse of the Chinese espionage trial last month.

Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Berry, a teacher, both denied charges of espionage under the 1911 Official Secrets Act.

The legislation required prosecutors to prove China was an "enemy".

Speaking to the joint committee on the national security strategy (JCNSS) yesterday, Hermer said Tory ministers' statements would have been brought up in cross-examination as evidence that China was not seen by the government as an enemy at the time of the alleged offences between 2021 and 2023.