Britain's government vehemently denied Monday that it helped scupper a high-profile case involving two men accused of spying for China, as it comes under pressure over its stance towards Beijing.

Charges against Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, were dropped last month, two years after they were arrested on allegations of collecting information which could be "useful to an enemy".

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government covets Chinese investment to spur a struggling economy and is pondering a request from Beijing to build a controversial new embassy building in London.

The Sunday Times newspaper reported this weekend that national security adviser Jonathan Powell had pushed for the spying case to be withdrawn over fears it could prompt China to pull investment.

Starmer'

See Full Page