A protracted PMQs row over the China spy case collapse has seen Starmer pin the blame on Matt Collins’ three witness statements, say he will publish them, and claim that no political appointee was involved once Labour came to power:
“There was a meeting in September that did not involve the National Security Adviser discussing the evidence in any way… The the final statement in this case was submitted in August 2025. There was no further submission of evidence one way or the other after any discussion in September. This is a red herring, a completely scurrilous allegation made by the Leader of the Opposition.”
Something contradicted by wide reporting…
In Henry Mance’s piece today for the FT, lunching with Nigel Farage:
“Splendido!” Farage says, when the drinks arrive; I suppose it’s a step to European reconciliation. We clink glasses, and he lights the first of two back-to-back Benson & Hedges. A few minutes later, we’re back downstairs. “Are you drinking? Good.” He orders a glass of Sauvignon blanc for each of us — not a bottle, “because it’s Lent” — followed by a bottle of claret, to have with our meal. They say Farage drinks less than he used to. They say a lot of things.”