Defence lawyers would have used Tories’ statements to dismiss China spy case, attorney general says

Richard Hermer says failure by Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly to describe China as a threat would have been seized on in trial

Defence lawyers would have used Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly's statements about China to dismiss a case against two men charged with spying for Beijing, the attorney general has argued.

Richard Hermer told parliament that there would have been plenty of reference" by Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry's lawyers to Conservative ministers' policy positions had the trial gone ahead.