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. 

These accusations have been described as "very serious" by counter-terrorism police. 

The charge states that "for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state, obtained, collected, recorded, published, or communicated to any other person articles, notes, documents or information to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy." 

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. 

Speaking to the BBC, Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said that it has been a "very complex investigation." 

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He also said: "We're aware there has been a degree of public and media interest in this case but we would ask others to refrain from any further comment or speculation, so that the criminal justice process can now run its course." 

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.