Overview

• The Crown Prosecution Service halted the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry on 15 September, saying the evidential standard under the Official Secrets Act was no longer met.
• Media reports allege ministers or senior officials withdrew or constrained a key witness who was expected to describe China as an "enemy," a characterization central to the statute’s requirement.
• Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was very disappointed by the collapse, denied any ministerial involvement, rejected claims of a Whitehall meeting on the case, and referred to China as a "challenge."
• Government and CPS statements insist the decision was independent and that prosecutors faced no outside pressure, with a CPS letter reiterating there was an evidential failure.
• Senior MPs, including Alicia Kearns and Iain Duncan Smith, and Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle called for transparency, as the Guardian reported China warned the UK of retaliation over tougher foreign influence rules.