National security adviser Jonathan Powell played no role in the collapse of a China spy trial, a cabinet minister has told Sky News.

Bridget Phillipson , the education secretary, gave the government's most definitive answer yet about whether Mr Powell was part of the reason the case into two men accused of spying for China was dropped weeks before they were set to go on trial.

Asked on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips if she could assure him that the national security adviser played no role in the decision, Ms Phillipson said: "Yes, I can give that assurance.

"We're very disappointed that the CPS were not able to take forward the prosecution."

Former Conservative home secretary Priti Patel called the assurance "a very bold statement".

Parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash

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