UK Commons Vulnerable to Espionage After China Spy Charges Dropped

The Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has expressed serious concerns that dropping charges against two men accused of spying for China leaves Parliament vulnerable to foreign espionage. Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, charged under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly providing sensitive information between late 2021 and early 2023, had their charges dropped due to insufficient evidence according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Hoyle described the decision as effectively giving Beijing "licence to operate" within Parliament and is considering private legal action to protect parliamentary security. Both men denied the allegations, which Beijing dismissed as "malicious slander." The CPS director emphasized that no outside pressure influenced the decision despite criticism from the Home Office and political figures regarding the seriousness of the case. The Speaker has urged for further operational, strategic, or legal measures to safeguard members and staff from foreign interference within the parliamentary estate.