PM to publish Collins' statements in dropped espionage case

The Prime Minister said on Wednesday he will publish government witness statements that helped prompt the collapse of a high-profile espionage case, after a dispute with the Crown Prosecution Service over whether the documents could be released. Keir Starmer told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions that the statements from the deputy national security adviser, Matthew Collins, will be published in full after a short process, and said the move was intended to clarify why charges against two men were dropped.

The case involved former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and teacher Christopher Berry, who were accused last year of passing secrets to China. Prosecutors dropped the charges last month, concluding the evidence did not meet the threshold for trial. The principal Collins statement dates to December 2023, with additional statements provided in February and August 2025, officials said.

The decision to publish follows public disagreement between No 10 and the CPS. Government sources said Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald had sought to discuss release of the Collins statement with prosecutors but was told publishing it outside a courtroom would be inappropriate. A CPS...