Did the government willingly collapse the China spy trial?
The News Agents
Global
4.1 • 5.4K Ratings
🗓️ 14 October 2025
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The Conservatives have accused Keir Starmer and those around him of wilfully forcing the collapse of a trial involving two young British men accused of spying for the Chinese government - allegations they deny. Security minister Dan Jarvis got to his feet in the Commons last night to angrily deny Kemi Badenoch's attacks - it's all the fault of the last Conservative government was his counter charge. So why exactly did the case collapse? Did those in government really choose to protect economic interests over national security? Or could this be a case of cock up rather than conspiracy?
Later, which party leader emerged best from the conference season. And what might this tell us about the public hunger for change?
The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Newsagents podcast is brought to you by HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity. |
| 0:09.3 | This is a global player original podcast. |
| 0:12.8 | I have to ask you quickly about the China case. |
| 0:15.8 | Given the controversy, is it right that the CPS review the case? |
| 0:19.5 | And do you still support Jonathan Powell? |
| 0:21.6 | Is he exonerated in all of this? |
| 0:23.6 | Well, as I've said throughout, the relevant evidence was the evidence of what the Conservative |
| 0:30.6 | government's policy was at the time of the alleged offences. That is what was relevant. |
| 0:35.6 | That's always what has been relevant. I'm entirely satisfied |
| 0:39.3 | that that was the evidence before the Crown Prosecution Service. As for Jonathan Powell, he's doing an |
| 0:44.8 | excellent job. You heard what Steve Wickcoff said about him today in relation to the role he's played |
| 0:50.2 | behind the scene. So of course I've got full confidence in him. And today, you know, |
| 0:54.9 | shows the strength of the United Kingdom. Well, that was clear on Jonathan Powell from Kirstama. |
| 1:02.1 | The first bit, though, could have been a word salad that it's hard to make head or tail of. |
| 1:08.3 | The government is facing questions. |
| 1:15.6 | After the case against two men accused of spying for China collapsed, |
| 1:20.4 | we still don't really understand why that case went away or whether the right questions were ever asked. |
| 1:24.1 | Welcome to the newsagents. |
| 1:30.3 | The Newsagents. It's John. |
| 1:32.9 | It's Emily. |
| 1:33.5 | It's Lewis. |
| 1:34.3 | And there are facts and there's finger pointing. |
... |
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