Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has protested to the home secretary after prosecutors dropped charges against two men accused of spying for China and targeting MPs.
Sir Lindsay told Sky News the decision “leaves the door open” to foreigners spying on the House of Commons, and he has written a “strong and punchy” letter to Shabana Mahmood.
The Speaker says “all avenues” must be pursued to ensure the protection of MPs and Commons staff, and he is understood to be weighing up whether to carry out a private prosecution.
The men – Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher and director of the China Research Group, and Christopher Berry – were charged last April under the Official Secrets Act.
The charges related to “espionage within parliament”, security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs on Monday, in a statement after the case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service at the Old Bailey.
The pair were accused of targeting the China Research Group of MPs, whose leading members are former Tory security minister Tom Tugendhat, shadow home office minister and former foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns, and shadow minister Neil O’Brien.
Announcing the CPS decision, a spokesperson said: “In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the evidence in this case has been kept under continuous review and it has now been determined that the evidential standard for the offence indicted is no longer met. No further evidence will be offered.”
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Mr Cash and Mr Berry, who had both previously taught in China, said after the case against them was dropped that charges should never have been brought.
Speaking outside court, Mr Cash – previously a researcher for Ms Kearns – said: “While I am relieved that justice has been served today, the last two and a half years have been a nightmare for me and my family.”
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He said he hoped “lessons are learned from this sorry episode”, while his lawyer said his client was “entirely innocent and should never have been arrested, let alone charged”.
Revealing that he has now written to the home secretary, Sir Lindsay told Sky News: “As Speaker, I take the security of this House incredibly seriously. I believe this leaves the door open to foreign actors trying to spy on the House.
“This door must be closed hard. We must pursue all avenues to ensure the protection of Members and people that work within the House of Commons. It will not be tolerated.”
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Ahead of Mr Jarvis’s Commons statement on Monday, Sir Lindsay told MPs: “I found out only this morning that the charges against the two individuals relating to espionage for the Chinese authorities were to be dropped. I do not think that is good.
“I ask officials to consider whether any further steps should be taken-operational, strategic, or legal-to ensure that all those who work in this parliament are able to undertake their activities securely and without interference.”
And he concluded: “I am a very unhappy Speaker with what has happened. The fact that it has taken two years, until today, for somebody to withdraw this case is not good enough.”
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Mr Jarvis told MPs: “The government remain gravely concerned about the threat of Chinese espionage. Parliament and our democracy are sacrosanct, and any attempt by any foreign power to infiltrate or interfere with parliamentary proceedings is completely unacceptable.”
He added: “This was an independent decision made by the CPS, and it is not for any government minister to speculate on the reasons behind it.
“The government are extremely disappointed with the outcome in this case, and we remain extremely concerned about the espionage threat posed to the United Kingdom.”
Responding to Mr Jarvis’s statement, Ms Kearns told MPs: “From a securities perspective, today’s events are disastrous. They will embolden our enemies and make us look unwilling to defend our own nation, even when attacked in this place, the mother of all parliaments.”
