Boris Johnson’s decision to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from having access to the UK’s 5G network has been condemned as security “car crash” that could be seen from outer space.
The screaming U-turn on security policy by the Tory government was described as “incomprehensibly negligent” by Labour.
The decision to ban the Chinese company from the superfast mobile network means the introduction of 5G will be delayed for three years and could cost £2billion more than expected.
Oliver Dowden, the UK culture secretary, announced that no new Huawei 5G kit can be bought after 31 December this year but that angered backbench Tory MPs who have warned that Chinese tech is being used to spy on the UK.
In an attempt to placate MPs Dowden declared that the UK will be on an “irreversible path” to eliminating “high-risk vendors” such as Huawei in 5G by the time of the next general election in 2024.
But the Minister was humiliated by Labour’s Chi Onwurah who accused the Government of being “incomprehensibly negligent” in allowing the tech giant suspected of links to the Chinese military establishment to bid for the network in the first place.
She urged Dowden to “get a grip” of digital security policy.
Just six months ago Boris Johnson decided that the company, which critics say has a close relationship with the Chinese government, could have a limited role in the 5G network.
The turn-around came after intense pressure from the Trump administration which is locked in a trade and security war with China.
The move is likely to add further strain to Britain’s relationship with China as Johnson looks for global trade deals after Brexit.
Dowden was humbled in the Commons when he came to confirm the decision of the National Security Council and the cabinet.
He said Huawei was “high risk” and said the situation had changed since January when the government said the firm could play a limited role in the infrastructure.
He confirmed all Huawei technology is to be removed from the UK’s 5G network by 2027 and said it will be made illegal for tech firms to buy any 5G equipment from Huawei.
But the seven year time frame was not enough to satisfy Tory backbenchers who think Chinese government actions against democracy protesters in Hong Kong and its handling of the coronavirus crisis deserve a more robust response.
Tory former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Minister should remove Huawei from the UK’s telecoms network much sooner than 2027.
He added: “Having said he’s getting rid of them in 5G, 4G and 3G Huawei apparently are fine, they can go on for as long as anyone, and they will be upgraded in software upgrades for the next decade. So if they are a risk in 5G why are they not a risk to us generally according to this?”
SNP digital spokesman John Nicolson said the change in policy over Huawei “should have been taken a long time ago”.
He added: “We on the SNP benches warned that Huawei could not be trusted with our 5G network.
“Security experts were jeered. We should not open up the central nervous system of our modern society to a company owned by the Chinese Communist Party.”
