Overview

• Downing Street released three witness statements from deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins spanning December 2023 to August 2025 after the CPS dropped charges in September against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry.
• Collins described Chinese intelligence as highly capable and conducting large‑scale espionage that threatens the UK’s economic prosperity and democratic institutions, while also affirming a government approach to co‑operate, compete and challenge with China.
• Prosecutors said they abandoned the case after months of unsuccessfully seeking evidence that China constituted a national security threat at the time of the alleged offences, following a High Court ruling that raised the evidential bar.
• Keir Starmer said no ministers or special advisers shaped the evidence, yet opposition parties demanded wider disclosure of the 'China files' and queried why the August statement echoed current Labour policy language.
• Cash and Berry, who deny wrongdoing, now have no case to answer, as questions mount for both the CPS over its threshold assessment and No 10 over transparency and handling of the case.