Best of the Spectator Quite right!: was Cameron wrong about China?
Oct 14, 2025
The podcast dives into Westminster's espionage scandal as two men accused of spying for China see their case collapse. Was it incompetence or a strategic retreat from Beijing's influence? Michael and Maddie also tackle the controversial role of Jonathan Powell in the matter. They ponder the implications of past UK-China relations and the potential danger of appeasement. Finally, they explore Donald Trump's unexpected Gaza peace deal and reveal how reality TV like The Traitors reflects darker human traits, pondering which politicians would play the ultimate traitors.
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Unsettling Collapse Of Spy Prosecution
- Michael Gove argues the collapse of the China espionage prosecution either hides the full truth or shows staggering government incompetence.
- He highlights implausible claims that the CPS alone sank the case and doubts that one deputy handled crucial evidence alone.
Two Readings: Interference Or Bureaucratic Power
- Madeleine Grant outlines two explanations: deliberate interference to protect Chinese interests or unaccountable civil service power.
- She stresses the surprising apparent ignorance of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell on a major national security issue.
Powell's Past Fuels Suspicion
- Michael Gove recounts Jonathan Powell's political pedigree and ties to past governments to explain public suspicion.
- He links Powell to the Chagos deal and suggests that history fuels concerns about his China stance.
