Starmer, spies and China’s threat to national security

This Is Why

Sky News

News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.0 • 552 Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The prime minister’s been asked to ‘explain himself’ after the UK’s top prosecutor blamed the collapse of a China spy trial on the government - for not labelling China a risk to national security.

But Sir Keir Starmer blames the previous Tory government.

A parliamentary researcher and his associate were accused of passing on “politically sensitive” information to a member of China’s ruling politburo – so why won’t it go to court?

Niall is joined by political correspondent Mhari Aurora and the former head of MI6 Richard Dearlove.

Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme
Editor: Mike Bovill

Transcript

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1:00.2	Coming up, the former head of MI6 tells me the UK isn't taking the threat from China seriously
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