Badenoch accuses Labour of prioritising economic ties with China over national security – as it happened

Minister calls Badenoch's claims about Chinese spy trial baseless smears'. This live blog is closed

At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the PM's spokesperson said it was entirely false" to suggest the government influenced the collapse of the China spying case because of concerns Beijing could withdraw investment in the UK, Downing Street said.

Asked about reports in the Sunday Times which suggested a decision was taken high up in government to abandon the case so as not to damage the economic relationship with China, the PM's spokesperson told reporters:

It is entirely false. The CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] decision to drop the case was entirely a matter for the CPS. There was no role for any member of this government, no minister, or special adviser, to take any decision in relation to this case. That is entirely for the CPS.