Keir Starmer has come out fighting over claims his government deliberately sabotaged a spy trial to avoid harming the UK’s relations with China.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said it was “entirely false” to suggest No.10 had failed to fully co-operate with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry.

The men had denied spying for China and were due to stand trial under the Official Secrets Act, but it collapsed last month.

Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson revealed that his team had tried “over many months” to get the evidence it needed against the men, but it had not been forthcoming from the government.

“When this became apparent, the case could not proceed,” he said.

Opposition parties have accused th

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