Story perspectives

UK Government Faces Backlash Over Dropped Spying Case

10/24/2025

Summary

Story summary

The UK government faced criticism after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped a spying case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry in September 2023, citing insufficient evidence.
Deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins provided a witness statement to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that avoided the term "enemy" to comply with government policy.
Both Cash and Berry deny any wrongdoing, while key officials, including the attorney general and cabinet secretary, asserted they were not involved in the CPS's decision to discontinue the case.

History

Historical Context

The Birmingham Six case, where charges were dropped against six men wrongfully convicted of a 1974 pub bombing, sparked public outrage in 1985 and exposed serious flaws in the UK justice system. This historical precedent resonates with the recent dismissal of the spying case against Cash and Berry, raising ongoing concerns about accountability and civil liberties in the UK.

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Story summary

The UK government faced criticism after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped a spying case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry in September 2023, citing insufficient evidence.
Deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins provided a witness statement to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that avoided the term "enemy" to comply with government policy.
Both Cash and Berry deny any wrongdoing, while key officials, including the attorney general and cabinet secretary, asserted they were not involved in the CPS's decision to discontinue the case.

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