World
Former researcher cleared of China spying claims says he was a convenient fall guy
Chris Cash, a former parliamentary researcher acquitted of spying for China, claims he was used as a scapegoat by UK security services. In his first interview since his acquittal, Cash admitted to being naive and unprofessional in his text messages but denied harming national security.
Chris Cash, a former parliamentary researcher in the UK, was charged with espionage after sharing messages with a friend in China regarding sensitive political matters, including the 2022 Tory leadership race. Following his acquittal last autumn, Cash stated in an interview that he believes he was targeted as a warning by police and security services seeking to highlight foreign espionage threats. The case collapsed because government officials could not establish that China was formally classed as an enemy at the time, sparking a political row over government handling of the situation. While messages revealed discussions on sensitive topics, they contained no evidence that Cash was paid by or sympathetic to the Chinese Communist Party.
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