Keir Starmer’s government took the unusual step last night of publishing key evidence submitted to an espionage trial which dramatically collapsed.

Three witness statements provided by deputy national security adviser Matt Collins as part of the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) case against two men accused of spying for China were made public.

The men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, have always denied the allegations.

Critics have accused the government of deliberately sabotaging the case to avoid upsetting China as ministers try to improve relations with Beijing.

The prime minister promised to release Collins’ witness statements as he clashed in the Commons with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

But if he thought that doing so would draw a line under the row he was mistaken, as

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