How the China spy scandal could bring down Keir Starmer episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 14, 2025 · 42 MIN

How the China spy scandal could bring down Keir Starmer

from The Daily T

The Government is under huge pressure to explain why the high-profile trial of two men accused of spying for China collapsed just weeks before it was due to begin.Former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act, accused of gathering sensitive information for Beijing between December 2021 and February 2023. Both men have always maintained their innocence. Now, ministers face mounting criticism after the Crown Prosecution Service said the case failed because key evidence linking China to national security threats was never provided. In today’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla and Jacob Rees-Mogg discuss how a collapsed spy case could spell serious trouble for Starmer’s Government. We’re also joined by Tory MP Tom Tugendhat who points out that his party repeatedly described China as a threat to the country whilst in Government. And should Westminster really be deciding how people discipline their own children? As acting legend Michael Caine and the former England footballer Alan Shearer join calls for Keir Starmer to ban smacking, Camilla and JRM share their own experiences of disciplining their children (and you might be surprised by Jacob’s response).► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganVideo Producer: Will WaltersStudio Operator: Meghan SearleExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanSocial Producer: Nada AggourEditor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government is under huge pressure to explain why the high-profile trial of two men accused of spying for China collapsed just weeks before it was due to begin.Former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were charged under the Official Secrets Act, accused of gathering sensitive information for Beijing between December 2021 and February 2023. Both men have always maintained their innocence. Now, ministers face mounting criticism after the Crown Prosecution Service said the case failed because key evidence linking China to national security threats was never provided. In today’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla and Jacob Rees-Mogg discuss how a collapsed spy case could spell serious trouble for Starmer’s Government. We’re also joined by Tory MP Tom Tugendhat who points out that his party repeatedly described China as a threat to the country whilst in Government. And should Westminster really be deciding how people discipline their own children? As acting legend Michael Caine and the former England footballer Alan Shearer join calls for Keir Starmer to ban smacking, Camilla and JRM share their own experiences of disciplining their children (and you might be surprised by Jacob’s response).► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganVideo Producer: Will WaltersStudio Operator: Meghan SearleExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanSocial Producer: Nada AggourEditor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NOW PLAYING

How the China spy scandal could bring down Keir Starmer

0:00 42:31

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Daily T?

This episode is 42 minutes long.

When was this The Daily T episode published?

This episode was published on October 14, 2025.

What is this episode about?

The Government is under huge pressure to explain why the high-profile trial of two men accused of spying for China collapsed just weeks before it was due to begin.Former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were charged...

Can I download this The Daily T episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!