Giving Huawei a role in UK’s 5G network ‘beggars belief’, say MPs
Johnson’s decision is questioned by leading Tory figures
SENIOR CONSERVATIVES have said it “beggars belief” that the Government has opted to allow Huawei a role in the UK’s 5G network.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith led the criticism from the Government benches, questioning Boris Johnson’s decision to open the door for the Chinese tech giant to have a limited role in the 5G upgrade.
The backbencher, who chaired Mr Johnson’s leadership campaign, yesterday accused the Prime Minister of ignoring warnings from security allies such as the US, saying that “even Vietnam does not want Huawei”.
Tom Tugendhat, who is campaigning to be re-elected as foreign affairs committee chairman, said there were “many unanswered questions” following the move to green light Huawei’s involvement. Ex-Cabinet Minister David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden in East Yorkshire, accused the Government of preparing to “accept a bribe” from the Chinese state.
The National Security Council, chaired by the PM in Downing Street, decided that “high-risk vendors” should be permitted to play a peripheral role in the network, limited to no more than a 35 per cent presence.
Huawei, with its close links to the Chinese government, will also be excluded from security critical “core” functions and sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases.
Downing Street said the decision on Huawei would enable the UK to “seize the opportunities” offered by new technology while protecting national security.
“The Prime Minister wants UK consumers and businesses to benefit from world-class connectivity. This would never be at the expense of our national security,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.
“The decision we have taken will protect our security interests while ensuring we can seize the opportunities from 21st century technology.”
Ministers believe that rolling out 5G across the country is crucial to improving economic performance and addressing the UK’s “productivity gap”.
But Sir Iain said Ministers
should be ordering the removal of Huawei equipment from Britain’s communications network – it already plays a part in 4G connections – rather than allowing it to be rolled-out further.
“We have a cyber war going on with China, they are constantly
trying to break into our systems, they are constantly trying to put misinformation about,” he told ITV.
“Therefore it slightly beggars belief that, while we know they are trying to mess with our systems as a nation, why we’re using an organisation that itself has strong and deep connections to the government in China and therefore is involved also in their secret state apparatus.
“We should be taking them out of this system. Every one of our close allies across the world, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America, and now we hear
Czechoslovakia (sic) – even Vietnam does not want Huawei in.”
Shadow Digital, Culture and Media Secretary Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley & Spen, said: “The Tories refused to take our technological sovereignty seriously and failed to invest in homegrown alternatives to Huawei.
“As a result, they’re in the ludicrous position of having to choose between the UK’s security concerns and our infrastructure needs.”
Jeremy Thompson, vice president of Huawei UK, said the “high risk” tag was a “fact of life” for the company.
“When Huawei first arrived in the UK, it had high-risk status because it was unknown and I understand now we’ve got highrisk status, and one of the reasons is because we have a high market share, and the country of origin has also been mentioned,” he said. “That’s a fact of life, there’s nothing we can do about that.”
While senior Huawei executives welcomed the Government’s verdict, they warned that it was “too early” to predict the potential impact. The UK’s mobile operators have said they will look into the potential impact of the Government’s decision.
China are constantly trying to break into our systems.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.