My own experience when I was a minister showed two institutions which really didn’t care very much what we thought: the Chinese government, and Google.
One of the most dangerous sequences in politics goes like this. “Something must be done. Here’s something. Let’s do it.”
Troublemaking Tories are no bad thing as the UK moves forward with its 5G contract.
They included seven former Cabinet Ministers, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and the Chairman of the 1922 Executive Committee.
We lost Putney, but gained loads of poorer seats in the north and midlands. That’s highlighted the tensions.
This is how Johnson’s decision over Huawei’s role in the UK’s 5G network could be viewed by historians, says the former Brexit Secretary.
Plus: No nay to Huawei. Or to HS2, too. And: my looming interview with Pompeo on his visit to London.
The Prime Minister may be able to ignore disgruntled Tories, but the US legislature will play a critical role in any new trade deal.
The Foreign Secretary promises the Government is “establishing one of the strongest regimes for telecoms security anywhere in the world”.
She says discussions are taking place about a decision, but that claims in today’s papers aren’t accurate.
There would seem to be a difference between the rhetoric coming out of the US and the implementation of policy.
We must not put public money into the pockets of a company accused of abetting the most egregious human rights abuses in the modern world.
“I don’t want, as UK prime minister, to put in any infrastructure that is going to prejudice our national security.”
The blunt reality is that China is a cyber risk and will remain so for years. It has a dreadful reputation for cyber attacks and intellectual property theft.
As with the NHS, policing, immigration and stop & search, so with trade. The Prime Minister will want a quick win – or at least progress towards one.