Sir Keir Starmer has ‘full confidence’ in national security adviser after China spy trial collapse

Published

1 month ago

October 13, 2025

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Sir Keir Starmer has said he has “full confidence” in national security adviser Jonathan Powell following the collapse of the China spy trial.

The prime minister said the senior civil servant is doing an “excellent job”, amid questions over whether he played a role in the case being abandoned.

Christopher Cash, 30, a former parliamentary researcher, and teacher Christopher Berry, 33, were accused of spying for China – a charge they denied – but weeks before their trial was due to begin, it was suddenly dropped.

The director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, has blamed ministers for failing to provide evidence that would support the assertion that China represented a threat to national security, leading to accusations of a cover-up from the Tories.

However, Downing Street blamed the Conservatives for failing to classify China as a threat while in office – when the charges were brought against the pair – and for failing to update the “archaic” Official Secrets Act.

Asked today if he supported Mr Powell, Sir Keir told broadcasters: “He’s doing an excellent job.

“You heard what Steve Witkoff said about him today in relation to the role he’s played behind the scenes [in Gaza]. So of course, I’ve got full confidence in him.”

Mr Witkoff, the US’s Middle East envoy, this morning lauded “the incredible input and tireless efforts” of Mr Powell in helping to bring about a ceasefire. Sir Keir was speaking from Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, where world leaders have gathered for the Gaza peace summit.

The dropped trial has sparked a political row, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the government of deliberately collapsing the case in order to avoid angering China and losing investment into the UK – something ministers have strenuously denied.

Security minister Dan Jarvis accused her of spreading “baseless smears” in a statement setting out the government’s position in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, as MPs returned to parliament following the party conference recess.

Mr Cash, of Whitechapel, east London, and Mr Berry, of Witney, Oxfordshire, were charged in April 2024 with passing politically sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence agent between December 2021 and February 2023.

Blame game continues

Mr Jarvis told MPs the prosecution was “based on the law at the time of the [alleged] offence and the policy position of the Conservative government at the time of the [alleged] offence”.

He said “every effort” was made by the Labour government to provide evidence to proceed with the case on that basis, but the CPS was “hamstrung” by the Tories’ failure to update the Official Secrets Act.

This was the legislation under which the charges were brought, which specifies it is a crime to communicate any documents which might be useful to “an enemy” – language Mr Jarvis said was “archaic in the modern threat landscape”.

The Tories defined China only as a “systemic challenge to UK security” in 2021, and then as an “epoch-defining challenge” in 2023.

Mr Jarvis said ministers “cannot retrospectively” change that, adding: “The current government’s policy position was immaterial to the assessment that was made by the CPS.

“The CPS decision to drop the case was not influenced by any member of this government, nor special adviser or senior official.”

China ‘poses series of threats’

Ms Badenoch doubled down on her accusations in response, saying the collapsed trial “wasn’t a mistake”.

“This looks like a deliberate decision to collapse the case and curry favour with the regime in China.”

On Labour’s position on China, Mr Jarvis said: “We fully recognise that China poses a series of threats to UK national security, yet we must also be alive to the fact that China does present us with opportunities.”

He said that requires a “pragmatic approach to economic engagement without compromising on our national security”.

MI5 issues new guidance to MPs

Another issue the row has raised is the safety of MPs – with Commons speaker Lindsey Hoyle opening Monday’s debate saying he is “angry and disappointed” that politicians are not being adequately protected from foreign interference.

MI5 has now issued new guidance to MPs, peers, councillors, candidates and parliamentary staff, warning them: “You are a potential target.”

As well as urging vigilance at home, the advice warns that foreign intelligence services could seek to exploit politicians’ overseas travel to access their data or use financial donations as a route to influence.

The guidance specifically accused Russia, China and Iran of carrying out “long-term strategic foreign interference and espionage” but said “other states” could also seek to obtain information about “the UK system”.

Mr Jarvis said the guidance would “kickstart a wider cross-government action plan.. to reduce foreign interference and espionage threats to UK democratic institutions”.

UK

Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward – after Andrew misses Congress deadline

Published

3 hours ago

November 23, 2025

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Deadline day for Andrew to respond to Epstein inquiry - but it's hard to imagine why he'd talk

Sir Keir Starmer has urged anyone with information on the Jeffrey Epstein case to come forward after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor missed the deadline to appear in front of US Congress.

US legislators have criticised Andrew for what they describe as “silence” amid their probe into Epstein after he failed to respond to their request for an interview.

When asked about Andrew missing the deadline and whether the former prince should help the case in any way he can, Sir Keir said on his way to the G20 summit in South Africa: “I don’t comment on this particular case.”

He added that “a general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kind of cases should give that evidence to those that need it”.

Andrew is not legally obliged to talk to Congress and has always vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

It comes as Marjorie Taylor Greene, a loyal supporter-turned-critic of US President Donald Trump, said on Friday she is resigning from Congress in January.

Ms Greene’s resignation followed a public falling-out with Mr Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticised him for his stance on files related to Epstein, as well as on foreign policy and healthcare.

Members of the House Oversight Committee had requested a “transcribed interview” with Andrew in connection with his “long-standing friendship” with Epstein, the paedophile financier who took his own life in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

But after saying they had not heard back, Democrats Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam accused Andrew of hiding.

Their statement read: “Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s silence in the face of the Oversight Democrat’s demand for testimony speaks volumes.

“The documents we’ve reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide.

“Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status, or political party. We will get justice for the survivors.”

It follows Andrew being stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles earlier this month.

He had previously agreed to stop using his titles, but had expected to remain a prince and retain his dukedom, ahead of the publication of the memoirs of the late Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager – an accusation he denies.

UK

Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

Published

3 hours ago

November 23, 2025

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in Swindon.

Police said the teenager was detained following an incident in Baydon Close, Moredon, in the Wiltshire town on Friday evening.

Officers responded to reports of disorder inside a house. When they arrived, a woman in her 50s living at the address was found to be not breathing. She was declared dead at the scene.

There were no other reported injuries.

Detective Inspector Darren Ambrose, from Wiltshire Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “This is a serious incident in which a woman has sadly died.

“We have set up a cordon at the address while an investigation is carried out.

“I can confirm that we have arrested a teenage girl in connection with this incident and we are not looking for anyone else.”

Police have asked people not to speculate about the incident online as this could prejudice the case.

A police statement read: “Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we continue carrying out our enquiries into the woman’s death.

“The suspect remains in custody at this time.”

Police said anyone with concerns should speak with their local neighbourhood policing team, either by emailing or approaching officers in person.

UK

Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

Published

3 hours ago

November 23, 2025

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

Rail fares are to be frozen for the first time in 30 years, the government has announced.

Ministers promised that millions of rail travellers will save hundreds of pounds on regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns between major cities.

The fare freeze applies to England and services run by English train operators.

People commuting to work three days a week using flexi-season tickets will save £315 a year travelling from Milton Keynes to London, £173 travelling from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds, the government said.

The changes are part of Labour’s plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railways. Other planned changes include tap in-tap out and digital ticketing, as well as investing in superfast Wi-Fi.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government was introducing a freeze on rail fares for the first time in 30 years, which “will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier”.

“We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so we’re freezing fares to help millions of passengers save money,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

“Commuters on more expensive routes will save more than £300 per year, meaning they keep more of their hard-earned cash.”

Rail unions and passenger groups welcomed the move, praising how it will make travel more affordable for passengers and promote more sustainable travel alternatives.

Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the rail fare freeze “will be a huge relief to working people”.

“This is the right decision, at the right time, to help passengers be able to afford to make that journey they need to take, and to help grow our railway in this country, because the railway is Britain’s green alternative – taking cars and lorries off our congested roads and moving people and goods safely around our country in an environmentally-friendly way,” Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said.

The Tories welcomed the move but said the government was “late to the platform”.

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: “In government, the Conservatives kept fares on the right track with below-inflation rises and consistently called for no further hikes to protect hard-working commuters.”