Boris Johnson has risked the fury of Donald Trump by giving the go-ahead for Huawei to help build the UK’s 5G infrastructure – but only the “periphery of the network”, and capping the Chinese tech giant’s market share at 35 per cent.
It comes as the PM’s proposal for an Australian-style points-based immigration system for the bulk of migrants has been rejected by a government-commissioned review. It also recommended ministers lower a £30,000 salary threshold.
A new Brexit row with the EU has also emerged, with a leaked document indicating Brussels is set to demand the European Court of Justice (ECJ) enforces trade deal rules. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the UK could “not accept” such a move.
Huawei decision: other networks respond
Some fairly cagey reactions from other companies involved in 5G technology and telecoms infrastructure in the UK.
Mobile operator O2 said: “Huawei kit makes up less than 1% of our owned network infrastructure. We will continue to develop our 5G network with minimum disruption with our primary vendors Nokia and Ericsson.
“Whilst we agree with the government that diversity of supply is the best way to serve customers, careful consideration must be given to the distinction between ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ as 5G networks develop and evolve. We’ll now take time to review the full report.”
A Vodafone spokesperson said: “While Vodafone UK does not use Huawei in its core - the intelligent part of the network - it will now analyse the potential impact of today’s decision on the non-core elements of its network (masts and transmission links).
“By working closely with the relevant authorities on any required substitution of equipment and its timing, we aim to keep any potential disruption to customers to a minimum.”
A spokesman for BT, which owns mobile network EE, said: “While we have prepared for a range of scenarios, we need to further analyse the details and implications of this decision before taking a view of potential costs and impacts.”
Huawei decision ‘grave short-sighted mistake’ says Republican politician
Elise Stefanik, a Republican US congresswoman, tweeted: “The decision by (Boris Johnson) to allow Huawei into the UK’s telecommunications network is wrong, dangerous, and a grave shortsighted mistake.
“Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to push back on this decision by the UK to open their arms to China's surveillance state.”
Trump will ask Johnson if he had ‘all the information’, says president’s ex-adviser
Tim Morrison, a former adviser to Donald Trump, told the BBC: “If I were a member of parliament I would want to understand... why does my constituency not deserve the same level of protection, and the same level of 5G service, as the people of the United States, the people of Australia, the people of New Zealand, and the people of Japan?”
Referring to the US president, Morrison said: “I think this will be something where the president will ask whether or not his friend the prime minister had all the information.”
Asked if the decision could damage the prospects of a future trade deal with the US, he added: “I continue to have concerns about that.
“We have seen unions in the United States, we have seen Republican members of Congress who are traditionally free trade advocates, who have all expressed concerns about what it means to sign a free trade deal under these circumstances where we have to wonder whether or not our British allies are more interested in Chinese investment versus American investment.
“That’s the importance of the statement that the prime minister has made today.”
Terry Christian vs. Mark Francois
If you missed it earlier, Tory MP Mark Francois clashed with the once-notable broadcaster Terry Christian during a Brexit debate on Good Morning Britain.
It began with the former presenter of The Word attempting to defend having labelled people who voted to leave the EU “pitiable saps” who might soon be selling The Big Issue.
It soon descended into a bad-natured farce in which no-one emerged with any credit.
“Terry, we’ve heard enough!” Susanna Reid shouted at one point during the furious slanging match.
Terry Christian clashes with Tory MP Mark Francois during Brexit debate on Good Morning Britain
Viewers accuse producers of inviting TV figure on to ‘purposely embarrass’ the Remain view point‘Not even our closest ally … listens to us’ says US senator
Sharing an article about Boris Johnson’s decision on Huawei, US senator Chris Murphy – a Democrat – tweeted: “America has never been weaker. We have never had less influence.
“Not even our closest ally Britain, with a Trump soulmate in Downing Street, listens to us anymore.”
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan said it “should end any fears our Prime Minister will be a lapdog to the White House”.
Only 14 percent of people back PM’s Huawei decision
A YouGov poll released today shows that the public disagree with the government’s decision to allow Chinese state-owned Huawei to build “non-core” parts of Britain’s 5G network.
Only 14 per cent agree with decision, while 43 per cent disagree with it. Another 43 per cent don’t know what to think.
Jennifer Arcuri tells Dominic Cummings: ‘I can help’
Boris Johnson’s former closer personal friend has returned to the scene with a plea to the PM’s right-hand man Dominic Cummings: let me help you hire some misfits.
Writing an open letter to Cummings in The Daily Mail, the ex-model turned tech entrepreneur responded to the aide’s call for “weirdos” to apply for jobs at No 10.
“I can certainly recommend a few oddballs who could help. I’ve been hiring people like that for years,” wrote Arcuri.
She also revealed she thought too many people in Westminster have sex on the brain.
Recalling a meeting with MPs at which she brought up “penetration testing” (programmers’ jargon for seeking out weaknesses), she said they “sniggered like smutty schoolchildren”.
She signed off by stating: “As I always used to tell the prime minister, now is the time to ‘get excited’”.
No sniggering!
Tory MP says 'many areas of concern' over No 10's Huawei decision
Huawei promises to ‘boost economic growth’ in Britain
The Chinese tech giant’s vice-president Victor Zhang has responded to the government’s decision to allow the company a restricted role in building the UK’s 5G infrastructure.
“Huawei is reassured by the UK government’s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track,” he said.
“This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future.
“It gives the UK access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market ... We will build on this strong track record, supporting our customers as they invest in their 5G networks, boosting economic growth and helping the UK continue to compete globally.
“We agree a diverse vendor market and fair competition are essential for network reliability and innovation, as well as ensuring consumers have access to the best possible technology.”
No 10 to consider migration review report
Downing Street declined to say whether it would adopt the advice of its independent experts to dump a planned “Australian-style” points-based system for most migrants after Brexit.
The Migration Advisory Committee provoked surprise when its long-awaited study recommended the system – based on factors such as age, qualifications and previous study in the UK – be introduced for highly-skilled migrants only.
The prime minister’s spokesman said Boris Johnson remained committed to the so-called Australian-style system, but declined to say if that would only be for some arrivals.
“We will set out those details in due course,” he told The Independent. The response is expected within the next few weeks.
Huawei will face ‘tight restrictions’ over 5G, says culture secretary
Culture secretary Baroness Morgan has claimed the government’s green light for Huawei decision will “not be at the expense of our national security”.
The culture secretary stated: “High risk vendors never have been and never will be in our most sensitive networks.
“The government has reviewed the supply chain for telecoms networks and concluded today it is necessary to have tight restrictions on the presence of high risk vendors.
“This is a UK-specific solution for UK-specific reasons and the decision deals with the challenges we face right now. It not only paves the way for secure and resilient networks, with our sovereignty over data protected, but it also builds on our strategy to develop a diversity of suppliers.
“We can now move forward and seize the huge opportunities of 21st-century technology.”
Ciaran Martin, the chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, added: “This package will ensure that the UK has a very strong, practical and technically sound framework for digital security in the years ahead.”
Huawei leading the 5G patent race
The US has been trying to persuade Boris Johnson’s government they could collaborate on building new 5G infrastructure. But Huawei remains a world leader on the technology.
The Chinese tech company has filed the most patents for 5G technology – more than Nokia, Samsung and Ericson.
Our friends at Statista have taken a look at the patent field.
PM risks wrath of Trump by approving Huawei to help build 5G network
Boris Johnson has given the go-ahead for Huawei to help build the UK’s 5G network – but with restrictions.
“Ministers today determined that UK operators should put in place additional safeguards and exclude high risk vendors from parts of the telecoms network that acre critical to security.”
A Whitehall source denied the UK’s security was being put at risk, telling The Independent that Huawei would be banned from “critical” parts of 5G and from nuclear sites and military bases.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has all the details:
Boris Johnson risks wrath of Trump by approving Huawei to help build UK 5G network
The long-awaited decision has been made despite a last-gasp intervention by Washington, which warned vital intelligence-sharing with London will be thrown into jeopardyUK to resist EU demand for European Court of Justice to govern trade deal
Our Europe correspondent Jon Stone has more on the row over the EU’s desire for the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to have a say over UK trade with the bloc after Brexit.
It looks as if the UK will resist any demand for the ECJ to have a continued role and effectively give it continued power over the UK. Downing Street is said to regard the court as “by very definition not a neutral arbiter”.
All the details here:
UK to resist EU demand for European Court of Justice to govern Brexit trade deal
Brussels wants court to keep some power over UK under trade dealAlmost 80 per cent of Tory members opposed to Huawei role in 5G
A survey by ConservativeHome website shows Tory supporters are not happy at the idea of Huawei getting a role in Britain’s 5G network.
More than 77 per cent said of party members surveyed by the influential blog said the government should not allow the Chinese tech giant build the infrastructure, while only 13 per cent said the government should allow it.
UK-US trade deal: the obstacles in the way
As the National Security Council (NSC) discusses Huawei’s role in the nation’s 5G infrastructure, our political editor Andrew Woodcock has taken a look at the range of issues putting Boris Johnson’s government at odds with the US – from healthcare to chicken dinners.
Starmer pledges ‘reset’ in relationship with Scottish Labour
Labour’s policy on independence must not be imposed on the party in Scotland, the frontrunner to succeed Jeremy Corbyn has said.
Sir Keir Starmer said it was time to “reset the relationship between UK Labour and Scottish Labour”.
Writing in the Daily Record newspaper, he said: “It’s self-evident Scotland’s relationship with the UK cannot rest on the status quo. There is deadlock when we need change.
“Labour must change, too. We have to reset the relationship between UK Labour and Scottish Labour. Our constitutional position will be made, not imposed. It's not for Scotland alone that change must come.”
He stressed: “I don’t want Scotland to leave the UK. I profoundly believe in solidarity across borders.”
Starmer also called for a federal solution and pledged to push for a UK-wide constitutional convention to be established.
Party bosses in London have previously been accused of treating Labour in Scotland like a “branch office”. While Scottish Labour has been opposed to a second referendum, Jeremy Corbyn caused a storm when he said in 2017 it would be “absolutely fine”.
More recently, both Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell made clear they would not stand in the way of another ballot on independence – saying only it should not take place in the early years of a Labour government (had they won the election).
National Security Council meetsin Downing Street
Ministers have started arriving for the big National Security Council (NSC) meeting – with Boris Johnson expected to confirm his decision on Huawei’s role in the 5G network.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace was seen arriving at the security cabinet meeting with Major General Nick Carter – the chief of defence staff.
‘We will always be allies’, say UK’s Europe minister
Europe minister Christopher Pincher, taking part in the last scheduled ministerial meeting in Brussels before the UK’s exit from the EU, said it was a “historic week”.
He told reporters: “I’m here to reassert to my EU friends and colleagues that, though we are leaving the EU, we are not leaving Europe.
“Our shared history, our shared values, our commitment to security and prosperity continue as equals - sovereign equals.
“I’m looking forward to talking to my colleagues here today, reasserting those values and assuring them that as we leave the EU we will always be allies, partners and friends.”
Government urged to cut £30,000 salary threshold for migrants
A major review into government immigration plans has essentially rejected Boris Johnson’s proposal for an “Australian-style” points-based system for the bulk of migrants.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) – which provides independent, evidence-based advice to the government – has made a string of recommendations, including cutting the £30,000 earnings threshold.
The report recommends the PM should reduce the salary threshold for skilled migrants to £25,600 – dropping the existing £30,000 limit by £4,400 for those coming to the UK with a job offer.
Teachers and skilled NHS workers “would continue to benefit from lower salary thresholds”. But a higher threshold should be kept for higher paid occupations, the report also recommends.
The review recommended the use of points - earned on factors like age, qualifications and previous study in the UK - only for more highly-skilled migrants without a job offer.
Committee chairman Alan Manning said: “The government should ensure that the mistakes of previous UK points-based systems are not repeated.”
