Keir Starmer Is Under Fire After The Trial Of 2 Men Accused Of Spying For China Collapsed. Here's Why

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68e602d8150000540026997e.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Keir Starmer arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai." data-caption="Keir Starmer arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai." data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="via Associated Press" />Keir Starmer arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p><a href="news/keir-starmer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keir Starmer</a> is under pressure to explain the government’s role in the collapse of a case against two British men accused of spying for <a href="news/china" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">China</a>.</p><p>Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry found out last month that they would no longer face trial under the Official Secrets Act.</p><p>Critics have accused the government of trying to obstruct the case to avoid upsetting China – something vehemently denied by No.10.</p><p>The row has now led to an extraordinary war of words between the prime minister and Stephen Parkinson, one of his successors as Director of Public Prosecutions.</p><p>Here’s what you need to know.</p><p></p><h2><strong>How did it all start?</strong></h2><p>Cash and Berry were charged with collecting and communicating information which could be “useful to an enemy” between December 2021 and February 2023. They denied all the accusations.</p><p>The pair had been due to stand trial at the Old Bailey this month, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) unexpectedly announced last week that the case would not be proceedi