Two Tory leadership candidates signalled a potential Government U-turn on Huawei last night after Donald Trump warned ministers to 'be very careful' over the Chinese tech giant.
Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid questioned Theresa May's plan to allow the firm to help build Britain's new 5G network – suggesting it could put national security at risk.
And the US President made clear he intends to press the Government to tear up the plan when he jets into Britain today for a three-day state visit.
He warned ministers to 'be very careful' and to seek 'alternatives' to Huawei – and is expected to confront Mrs May over the issue in a meeting tomorrow.
The US ambassador to Britain also warned there would be consequences for trans-Atlantic intelligence sharing if ministers did not reverse the outgoing Prime Minister's controversial decision.
Mr Javid told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show he would scrap the Huawei deal if he becomes prime minister
Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt warned of buying telecom products 'from a specific country' that may be a 'backdoor to espionage'
Ahead of what is set to be a dramatic visit by Mr Trump:
The President's ambassador triggered a ferocious backlash after suggesting America would want access to the NHS as part of any post-Brexit trade deal; Brexiteers, including Esther McVey, backed Mr Trump's advice to go for a No Deal departure from the EU; It was expected the President will try to find time to meet both Boris Johnson and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage; Labour was accused of putting the trans-Atlantic 'special relationship' at risk with its 'disgraceful anti-Americanism'; A raft of senior Labour MPs were preparing to lead up to 250,000 anti-Trump protesters in this week's mass demonstration; Mr Trump denied calling the Duchess of Sussex 'nasty' in response to alleged past criticisms.Last night, Home Secretary Mr Javid suggested he would scrap the Huawei deal if he becomes prime minister, while Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt warned of buying telecom products 'from a specific country' that may be a 'backdoor to espionage'.
Mr Hunt said: 'We have to look at the technical issues which are around whether buying products from a specific country could be a backdoor to espionage'
In an interview on the eve of his visit, Mr Trump called on Britain to seek 'alternatives' to Huawei.
US officials believe the Chinese government is using the technology giant to spy on Western countries.
Asked what the consequences would be if the UK presses ahead with the deal, US ambassador Woody Johnson said: 'I think, to be determined.'
Mr Javid told the
