Alleged Spying Case: Home Office Involvement

Mike Tapp Excerpts

Monday 20th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

I thank the shadow Home Secretary for the question, and I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to respond to it today.

As I have repeatedly set out to the House, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the wider Government are extremely disappointed that this case will not be heard in court. I have heard the strength of feeling right across the House and I share Members’ concern about the threats we face from espionage. The witness statements released last Wednesday vindicate what the Prime Minister and other members of the Government have stated repeatedly: the deputy National Security Adviser faithfully, and with full integrity, set out the various threats posed by the Chinese state to the UK, and he did so in order to try to support a successful prosecution.

This urgent question asks about the involvement of the Home Office. Following the charging decision made in early 2024, under the previous Government, the Crown Prosecution Service advised the witness that he could not share the evidence with others in government. The Home Office’s involvement following the charging decision that was taken under the previous Government was therefore heavily restricted to avoid breaching the CPS’s requirements.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mike Tapp)]

Listen to that.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I do not need any help from the Government Front Bench. This is a very important statement that really does affect Members of this House.