Parliamentary researcher who worked with Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns denies spying for Chinese government
A parliamentary researcher with links to the Rutland and Stamford MP has denied spying for China.
Christopher Cash, 29, and his co defendant Christopher Berry, 32, were at the Old Bailey in central London this afternoon where they pleaded not guilty to breaching the Official Secrets Act.
The pair, who were arrested in March, spoke only to enter their pleas. They are accused of handing over information between December 2021 and February last year, which could have prejudiced the safety of the state.
Cash had worked with Alicia Kearns MP and other high ranking Conservatives, such as party leader challenger Tom Tugendhat, as part of his work with the China Research Group, a body set up to come up with ideas on how the West should handle China.
Cash was a director of the China Research Group but resigned after his arrest. Ms Kearns is the only current director of the limited company.
Cash and Berry were released from the court on conditional bail, with a provisional trial date set for Woolwich Crown Court in October next year. It is expected to last for up to seven weeks.