British Parliamentary Researcher and Another Man Charged with Spying for China
LONDON — Shockwaves reverberated through the UK as news broke that a UK parliamentary researcher and another man have been charged with espionage for China, accused of providing information that could be “useful to an enemy”.
Christopher Cash, 29, the researcher, and Christopher Berry, 32, have been charged under the Official Secrets Act, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The allegations include providing “articles, notes, documents or information” to a foreign state, with China vehemently denying the accusations and labeling them as “malicious slander”. Counter-terrorism authorities have emphasized the gravity of the charges, deeming them “very serious”.
Both Berry, from Witney in Oxfordshire, and Cash, residing in Whitechapel, London, were apprehended last March in connection with the investigation.
Reports indicate that Cash, a parliamentary researcher linked to the China Research Group, had access to multiple Conservative MPs, including security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns.
The alleged incidents involving Cash took place between Jan. 20, 2022, and Feb. 3, 2023, while those involving Berry occurred between Dec. 28, 2021, and Feb. 3, 2023.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, described the investigation as “extremely complex” and highlighted the close collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service, leading to the formal charges against the two men.
Both individuals were released on police bail following their initial arrests, allowing the investigation to progress and culminate in the charges brought against them.
The case is set to be heard at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 26, with Nick Price, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, cautioning against any actions that could prejudice the legal proceedings.
The Chinese Embassy has vehemently denied the accusations, calling them baseless and urging the UK to refrain from engaging in political manipulations and theatrics.
