Communication security

Spies v MPs on Huawei deal: MI5, MI6 and GCHQ tell Boris Johnson to press ahead with Chinese 5G deal despite US pleas... as PM's own backbenchers urge him to plug on the tech project

Britain's intelligence chiefs will come together today to tell Boris Johnson that Huawei should be allowed to build part of the UK’s 5G network.

Senior representatives from MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre will dismiss fears that our sovereignty would be under threat from the Chinese firm, sources said.

The Prime Minister is expected to grant Huawei limited access to the network. 

But the move will be met by a backlash from the Prime Minister’s own MPs, who say it will give China the ability to spy on British citizens and sabotage critical infrastructure.

It also risks upsetting our security relationship with the US, which has for months been lobbying Britain to exclude the firm. 

The Prime Minister will hear from the spy chiefs at a meeting of the National Security Council before he makes an announcement.

Speaking last night, Mr Johnson said the decision would be a ‘strategic win’ for Britain and consumers deserved access to ‘fantastic technology’.