Minister sides with US over Huawei fears

DEFENCE minister Tobias Ellwood yesterday sided with Donald Trump’s top diplomat over the risk Chinese tech firm Huawei poses to Britain.

In a swipe at the Prime Minister, he backed Mike Pompeo’s comment that Margaret Thatcher would have been tougher on Chinese ‘corruption or coercion’.

The US Secretary of State, on a visit to Britain, said Theresa May’s plan to allow Huawei to build part of the UK’s 5G network could put relations with the US at risk.

Mr Ellwood said the security of the network was ‘absolutely fundamental’.