Acquitted China spy accuser says he was security services 'fall guy'

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 19:32 · Archive

Chris Cash, acquitted of spying for China, says he was a convenient target for security services seeking to highlight foreign espionage threats.

Chris Cash, aged 31, was charged with spying for China in March 2023 after counter-terrorism police entered his parents' home in Edinburgh in the early hours. He was a former parliamentary researcher who worked with senior Conservative politicians on security and foreign affairs, and became director of the China Research Group aged 27.

Cash and his co-accused Chris Berry were alleged to have provided information or documents that could be 'useful to an enemy' and 'prejudicial to the safety or interests' of the UK through text messages. The pair consistently maintained their innocence. The case against both men was dropped the following year after prosecutors found the evidence did not meet the required standard for conviction.

The BBC has seen more than 6,000 messages between the two men. They show how Berry, who was living in China, sought information about sensitive political matters in the UK, including the 2022 Conservative leadership battle to decide the next prime minister. Berry described a meeting he had with a high-ranking Chinese official in summer 2022, saying he had been driven to a government-owned villa and asked questions 'about the situation in the UK at the moment, about the Tory leadership thing'.

Cash met Berry in 2018 when both were teaching English in China. Cash later moved to Britain and worked as a parliamentary researcher, eventually becoming director of the China Research Group. He used Berry as a reference during vetting for a parliamentary pass, which was approved.

In his first interview since his acquittal, Cash told the BBC he believes he was targeted as a 'convenient fall guy' for UK police and security services who wanted to put espionage threats by foreign states 'on the map'. He said he is angry about the impact the case has had on his life and believes it was pursued as a warning to others.

Cash admits he was 'unprofessional and naive' to send 'gossiping' texts to his friend. However, there is no evidence in the messages that he was paid by, or sympathetic to, the Chinese Communist Party. He insists he would 'never do anything' to harm UK national security.

Berry, who was also charged and acquitted, declined to comment on the story but previously denied any wrongdoing and said he had been 'unfairly subjected to a trial by media'. The Daily Mail reports that following his acquittal, Cash has 'been applying for basic admin jobs and having trouble' finding employment.

How it is being reported

• 'China spy' Scot: I was a fall guy for UK security servicesA Scottish man who was charged with spying for China has claimed he was a 'convenient fall guy' for security services who wanted to put espionage threats on the map.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 19:20
• Ex-parliamentary aide acquitted for spying tells BBC he was 'fall guy' but also 'naive'The man, charged with spying for China, said he was "unprofessional" to send "gossiping" texts to a friend.BBC News · 11 Nov, 17:42
• Tory researcher accused of spying for China breaks silence on being 'fall guy' for security servicesA British man who was charged with spying for China has broken his silence after the case was thrown out of court. Chris Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, denied accusations of providing information prejudicial to the interests of the state in breach of the Official Secrets Act. Speaking to the BBC, he has claimed to be a "convenient fall guy" for UK police, who wanted to put espionage threats by foreign states "on the map". He had been charged alongside Christopher Berry, 33, with the pair due to go to trial until prosecutor Tom Little told London's Old Bailey Court they would offer…GB News · 11 Nov, 17:36
• British man accused of spying for China says he was 'fall guy' for intelligence agenciesChris Cash, 31, told of the moment counter-terror officers barged into his parents' home over messages he sent to a friend he had met while teaching English in ChinaThe Mirror · 11 Nov, 12:08
• Acquitted ‘China Spy’ claims he was ‘fall guy’ for security servicesChris Cash said he believes his case was pursued as a warning to othersThe Independent · 11 Nov, 09:01
• Acquitted 'China spy': I was fall guy for security servicesThousands of messages seen by BBC show how a Chinese official sought details of sensitive political matters.BBC News · 11 Nov, 06:00

In this story: Chris Cash · Chris Berry · China Research Group · Conservative Party · UK · China · Edinburgh

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