Rebel MPS hopeful of Huawei U-turn

SENIOR Tory MPS believe they are on the verge of securing a major U-turn by Boris Johnson on his controversial decision to allow Huawei to build part of Britain’s 5G mobile network.

MPS led by former leader Iain Duncan Smith, foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat and former cabinet minister Owen Paterson have been pressing for a rethink.

A debate was held in Westminster Hall last week in the wake of revelations in the Sunday Express that the US could refuse to give information with Britain, as part of the Five Eyes security sharing arrangement which also involves Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Senior figures in the US have also made it clear that allowing

Huawei – which is owned by the Chinese government – to build part of the 5G network could damage a free trade deal between Britain and America.

It is understood that talks with ministers and senior backbenchers have led to hopes that Mr Johnson will change his mind.

During the debate, digital minister Matt Warman appeared to suggest the position may change.

He said: “We want to get to a position where we do not have to use a high risk vendor.”

One senior Tory MP said:

“That comment shows that the Government is on the verge of reversing this ridiculous decision. We’re almost there and will keep pushing.

“This has cross-party support. Nobody can understand why we are putting so much at risk for this.” However, a Downing Street source denied the Government will change its mind. The source said: “There isn’t a rethink. There’s a difference between engagement and rethink.”

Writing for the Sunday Express, Mr Paterson reiterated his view that Huawei has to be ditched.

He said: “The most obvious concerns are those of national security. Huawei is not a private company.

“It is, in effect, a state-owned corporation intimately involved with Chinese intelligence services. Allowing Huawei a role is effectively allowing China to build it.

“Even Communist Vietnam has shunned Huawei on security grounds.

“Our Five Eyes partners have already blocked it and are furious with the UK’S decision.

“There’s a real danger that our closest allies could withhold crucial intelligence from us.”

He urged the Government to look at the work of UK company Softiron which has already developed a range of advanced server products.