May 02,2019

Anna Murray

Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain abruptly fired Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson on May 1 over the leaking of a key decision from a UK National Security Council meeting that she would allow the Chinese telecoms company Huawei to build some elements of the country’s next-generation cellular data network known as 5G.

Following the leak, an inquiry was launched by Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill after the unauthorized disclosure of information from April 23 meeting of the UK National Security Council was published in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Williamson denied he was the source of the leak and posted a letter on his Twitter, defending "I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my Department. I emphatically believe this was not the case."

It has been considered a security risk by allegations by many countries, including the US that Huawei products could be used by China for spying. While Australia has already barred its equipment from the country's 5G networks, the British government said no decision had yet been made.

Shortly after the firing of Williamson, Prime Minister May announced Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt would replace him as UK's first female defense secretary.

Photo:Webshot.