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This is George Parker with The Week in Westminster.

There's nothing Westminster likes more than a spy scandal,

especially when the alleged spying is taking place under the noses of MPs.

Like most good thrillers, it has intrigue, sinuous plot lines, red herrings, and the pervasive

question, where does the truth lie? Last month's surprise decision by the Director of Public

Prosecutions to drop charges against two men accused of spying for China has prompted

allegations of improper interference by the Labour government.

The opposition leader Kemi Biednock took up the argument at Prime Minister's questions.

A serious case involving national security has collapsed because this government is too weak to

stand up to China. And if the Prime Minister cannot protect the members of this House, what

does that say about his ability to protect this country?

The case did not proceed because the policy of the past government did not meet the

test that was necessary. That is the long and the short of it.

Far from evading, I have said I will disclose the full witness statements

that set out exactly what was in the witness statements,

exactly what the subsequent statement says.

Sure enough, the government published the relevant witness statements

from its Deputy National Security Advisor that evening.

But that wasn't enough for some MPs and the very next day the government was forced to answer an urgent question in the Commons.

Conservative MP Tom Tuganhat, who previously employed one of the alleged spies, went on the attack.

Here we have two individuals seeking to extract information from us.

...