Labour slams “negligent” government approach to Huawei after U-turn

Labour’s shadow minister for industrial strategy, science and innovation has slammed the government’s approach to national security as “incomprehensibly negligent” following its U-turn on Huawei.

Responding to a parliamentary statement by Secretary of State Oliver Dowden this afternoon, Chi Onwurah challenged the minister over the government’s handling of the UK’s 5G network infrastructure.

Dowden had used his statement in the Commons today to announce that mobile providers must remove 5G kit supplied by the Chinese company by 2027, which represents a major U-turn in government policy.

Labour asked the government to publish the security advice on which the decision today was made, and what “new information the government was given that was not available when the initial decision was made”.

Onwurah said: “It has been clear for some that there are serious questions over whether Huawei should be allowed to control large sections of our country’s telecoms network – yet the government refused to face reality.

“Their approach to our 5G capability, Huawei and national security has been incomprehensibly negligent. The current Education Secretary was sacked as Defence Secretary for leaking security services’ advice on Huawei, and yet the government then went on to ignore large parts of it.

“In January the Foreign Secretary said in a statement to this House that they would legislate at, and I quote, “the earlier opportunity” on high risk vendors. Then they refused to work with us and their own backbenchers.”

She asked the Secretary of State to outline “when he will bring forward legislation on high-risk vendors, including the robust regulation and enforcement powers required to limit or eliminate their power in our network”.

The Telecoms Infrastructure Bill, which should deliver the government’s commitment to introduce super-fast broadband, has been facing significant resistance from Conservative MPs who want tougher restrictions on Huawei.

The government last reviewed the company’s role in its telecoms infrastructure in January. Boris Johnson then decided that the firm would remain a supplier but introduced a 35% cap on its market share.

A group of Tory backbenchers – who said that they numbered 60 in total – had written to the Prime Minister on Monday, saying that their support for the legislation was dependent on “ending altogether the role for high-risk vendors”.

Dowden said today: “Many members of this House have considered the policy on high-risk vendors in the context of the UK’s wider relationship with China. Let me assure members that this government is clear eyed about China.

“We have been robust in our response to the imposition of new security laws in Hong Kong – including through our generous offer to British national oversea passport holders. What we want is a modern and mature relationship with China.”

Labour welcomed the plans to offer citizenship to all British nationals in Hong Kong announced earlier this month, but criticised the government for what it described as a “deeply confused” relationship with China.

Labour’s Lisa Nandy warned that the government had been “going after China for its investment without regard to the consequences for national security”, citing examples such as the Bradwell nuclear power project and Huawei’s 5G involvement.