A parliamentary researcher with ties to the Rutland and Stamford MP has vehemently denied allegations of spying for the Chinese government.

Parliamentary Researcher Denies Chinese Spying Allegations

A parliamentary researcher with ties to the Rutland and Stamford MP has vehemently denied allegations of spying for the Chinese government.

Christopher Cash, 29, and his co-defendant Christopher Berry, 32, appeared at the Old Bailey in London, where they pleaded not guilty to breaching the Official Secrets Act. The pair, arrested in March, are accused of passing classified information to China between December 2021 and February 2022.

Cash, who had previously worked with Alicia Kearns MP and other prominent Conservatives, including Tom Tugendhat, was a director of the China Research Group, a body focused on Western strategies for dealing with China. He resigned from his position following his arrest. Ms. Kearns remains the sole director of the limited company.

The allegations against Cash and Berry have sent shockwaves through the political establishment, raising concerns about the potential infiltration of sensitive information by foreign powers. The trial, scheduled for October 2026, is expected to last up to seven weeks.