Sir Keir Starmer faces scrutiny after the collapse of a trial against two men accused of spying for China, following the release of witness statements by the government.

Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act last year but have denied the allegations, and the case fell apart, with the director of public prosecutions citing the government’s refusal to label China a threat.

Witness statements from deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins highlighted large-scale Chinese espionage targeting the UK, including politically sensitive information from Tory sources, but did not classify China as an “enemy.”

Critics argue the collapse raises questions about whether the government’s desire for a positive relationship with China affected the prosecution and why the CPS could not obtain necessary evidence, Sky News has reported.

Calls for a statutory inquiry are growing, with Commons committees expected to examine the case further, while Cash maintains his innocence and criticizes the trial as “completely devoid of context.”