A long-awaited trial of two men – a former parliamentary aide to Kearns, Christopher Cash, and an associate, Christopher Berry – accused of spying for China was to be abandoned. Cash and Berry, who had always maintained their innocence, now had no case to answer. Kearns described Cash as somebody who “often described his love of China – but was always heavily critical of the Communist party”. In last June’s strategic defence review, China was said to pose “sophisticated and persistent challenge” to the UK. Cash, meanwhile, said he was unhappy to see some MPs still trying to imply he had a case to answer.