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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48126974
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson sacked over Huawei leak
Media captionOn Tuesday, before he was sacked by Theresa May, Gavin Williamson said in a BBC interview that he had never leaked anything from the NSC
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as defence secretary following an inquiry into a leak from a top-level National Security Council meeting.
Downing Street said the PM had "lost confidence in his ability to serve" and Penny Mordaunt will take on the role.
The inquiry followed reports over a plan to allow Huawei limited access to help build the UK's new 5G network.
Mr Williamson, who has been defence secretary since 2017, "strenuously" denies leaking the information.
In a meeting with Mr Williamson on Wednesday evening, Theresa May told him she had information that provided "compelling evidence" that he was responsible for the unauthorised disclosure.
In a letter confirming his dismissal, she said: "No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified."
Responding in a letter to the PM, Mr Williamson said he was "confident" that a "thorough and formal inquiry" would have "vindicated" his position.
"I appreciate you offering me the option to resign, but to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case," he said.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said sources close to the former defence secretary had told her Mr Williamson did meet the Daily Telegraph's deputy political editor, Steven Swinford, but, she pointed out "that absolutely does not prove" he leaked the story to him.
According to Sky News defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall, Mr Williamson swore on his children's lives that he was not responsible for the leak.
Security correspondent Frank Gardner said the BBC had been told "more than one concerning issue" had been uncovered regarding Mr Williamson during the leak inquiry and not just the Huawei conversation.
Downing Street has made a very serious accusation and is sure enough to carry out this sacking.
For the prime minister's allies, it will show that she is, despite the political turmoil, still strong enough to move some of her ministers around - to hire and fire.
Mr Williamson is strenuously still denying that the leak was anything to do with him at all.
There is nothing fond, or anything conciliatory, in either the letter from the prime minister to him, or his reply back to her.
Read more from Laura
The National Security Council (NSC) is made up of senior cabinet ministers and its weekly meetings are chaired by the prime minister, with other ministers, officials and senior figures from the armed forces and intelligence agencies invited when needed.
It is a forum where secret intelligence can be shared by GCHQ, MI6 and MI5 with ministers, all of whom have signed the Official Secrets Act.
There has been no formal confirmation of Huawei's role in the 5G network and No 10 said a final decision would be made at the end of spring.
Mrs May said the leak from the meeting on 23 April was "an extremely serious matter and a deeply disappointing one".
Theresa May's letter to Gavin Williamson
It is vital for the operation of good government and for the UK's national interest in some of the most sensitive and important areas that the members of the NSC - from our armed forces, our security and intelligence agencies, and the most senior level of government - are able to have frank and detailed discussions in full confidence that the advice and analysis provided is not discussed or divulged beyond that trusted environment.
"That is why I commissioned the cabinet secretary to establish an investigation into the unprecedented leak from the NSC meeting last week, and why I expected everyone connected to it - ministers and officials alike - to comply with it fully. You undertook to do so.
"I am therefore concerned by the manner in which you have engaged with this investigation."
Read the rest of the letter in full
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the prime minister had no alternative but to sack Mr Williamson, but he said on a personal level he was "very sorry about what happened".
When asked whether there should be a criminal inquiry into the NSC leak, new defence secretary Ms Mordaunt said: "The prime minister has made her decision.
"What I'm focused on is getting on with the job."
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has called for a police inquiry to investigate whether or not Mr Williamson breached the Official Secrets Act.
That sentiment was echoed by former national security adviser Lord Ricketts. He told BBC Newsnight that on the face of it, the leak was a breach of the official secrets act and therefore the police ought to be considering an inquiry.
Lib Dems leader Vince Cable said Mr Williamson's sacking was "absolutely extraordinary" and the PM did it in "such a forthright way".
He added that he believed it was "clearly a police matter". His deputy, Jo Swinson, has asked the police to open an investigation.
But Scotland Yard said in a statement that it was a matter for the National Security Council and the Cabinet Office, and it was not carrying out an investigation.
Defence Committee chairman Julian Lewis told the BBC that Mr Williamson's sacking was a "loss" when looked at "purely" from the point of view of defence.
He said he thought "very highly" of Ms Mordaunt - the first woman to take the role of defence secretary.
Rory Stewart has been confirmed as the new international development secretary, taking over from Ms Mordaunt.
Mr Stewart said he believed the prime minister and national security adviser had "made the right decision" in sacking Mr Williamson.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/01/...cretary-fired-huawei-leak-gbr-intl/index.html
UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson fired over Huawei leak
By Bianca Britton, CNN
Updated 2032 GMT (0432 HKT) May 1, 2019
Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has been asked to step down by British Prime Minister Theresa May.
London (CNN)British Prime Minister Theresa May has fired her Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson over the leaking of a key decision related to the Chinese telecoms company Huawei from a UK National Security Council meeting.
May's surprise decision followed an inquiry into how the Daily Telegraph newspaper discovered that the UK government was preparing to give Huawei access to parts of the country's 5G mobile network.
"The Prime Minister has this evening asked Gavin Williamson to leave the Government, having lost confidence in his ability to serve his role of Defence Secretary and as a member of her Cabinet," the statement said.
UK could give Huawei a limited role in building its 5G networks
"The Prime Minister's decision has been informed by his conduct surrounding an investigation into the circumstances of the unauthorized disclosure of information from a meeting of the UK National Security Council."
Williamson "strenuously" denied he was the source of the leak, in a letter posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday night.
"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," he said.
"I strongly deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position."
Williamson added that he chose not to accept Prime Minister May's offer for him to resign because it would have suggested that he was guilty.
The Daily Telegraph's leaked story was controversial because of allegations by some Western countries, including the United States, that Huawei products could be used by China for spying.
Huawei, the world's largest supplier of telecom equipment, has repeatedly denied the accusations. While Australia has already barred its equipment from the country's 5G networks, Huawei has fought hard to convince the United Kingdom that its products are safe for use.
Following the leak, an inquiry was launched by Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill after the information from the secret discussions on April 23 was published in the paper.
In a letter to Williamson, May said it was an "extremely serious matter, and a deeply disappointing one."
"It is vital that I have full confidence in the members of my Cabinet and of the National Security Council. The gravity of this issue alone, and its ramifications for the operation of the NSC and the UK's national interest, warrants the serious steps we have taken, and an equally serious response."
British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Number 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament on May 1.
Following the announcement, several MPs called for Williamson to face criminal charges.
Opposition Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said the former Defense Secretary "should be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act" and "should forgo his ministerial severance pay," according to Britain's Press Association (PA) news agency.
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable also argued that Williamson should be referred to London's Metropolitan Police "for a thorough criminal investigation," PA added.
However Scotland Yard, the headquarters for the Met Police, said in a statement that they were aware of the leak but were not carrying out an investigation at this stage, according to PA.
"Clearly if at any stage we receive any information that would suggest criminal offences have been committed, then we will look into that," it added.
May shortly after Williamson was fired that Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt would replace him. She will be the country's first female defense secretary.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/world/europe/uk-defense-secretary-huawei.html
Gavin Williamson, U.K. Defense Chief, Is Fired Over Huawei Leak
Britain’s defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, who was dismissed on Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May, is seen leaving her residence in January.CreditNeil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock
Image
Britain’s defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, who was dismissed on Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May, is seen leaving her residence in January.CreditCreditNeil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock
By Stephen Castle and Adam Satariano
Mrs. May’s announcement was made after an investigation into a report in The Daily Telegraph about discussions in Britain’s National Security Council, of which Mr. Williamson was a member, and where secrecy is meant to be strictly observed.
The report suggested that Mrs. May had overruled objections from some senior council members, including Mr. Williamson, about allowing the Chinese company, Huawei, to build some elements of the next-generation cellular data network known as 5G.
The government later said no decision had yet been made.
But the leak provoked a negative reaction from the United States, which has been on a campaign to pressure other countries to bar Huawei from building 5G networks, saying its equipment is vulnerable to Chinese state espionage, an assertion the company denies.
Robert L. Strayer, the deputy assistant secretary for cyber and international communications and information policy at the State Department, said this week that any use of the Chinese company posed a potential security risk.
The firing of Mr. Williamson, once a close ally of Mrs. May, also underscored the volatility of her government, which has lost more than 30 ministers since she came to power in 2016.
World Press Freedom Day
See why an independent press is vital to democracy
After his dismissal, Mr. Williamson denied being responsible for The Daily Telegraph article, which appeared within hours of the council’s meeting, making it one of the most serious government information breaches in recent memory.
“I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak,” he said in a letter released publicly.
Huawei has become a flash point as governments around the world set policies for creating the high-speed 5G networks, which many in the technology industry believe will lead to breakthroughs in transportation, health care, manufacturing and other fields.
At stake are billions of dollars in contracts to provide the equipment for the new networks.
The United States has struggled to persuade European allies to ban the company, even after officials said it may limit intelligence-sharing with countries that allow Huawei. Germany, for example, has said it was unlikely to impose a ban.
Huawei has already been part of Britain’s telecommunications infrastructure for more than 15 years, though it is kept out of functions that handle customer data and manage the network’s overall operations.
Britain’s top intelligence officials said this year that any security risks posed by Huawei could be mitigated with strong oversight.
At a lab an hour outside London, the company’s products are subjected to security reviews overseen by government officials in what is considered one of the world’s most thorough procedures.
If Britain did involve Huawei in creating its 5G system, that would be an important victory for the company because Britain is a critical market.
Decisions on Huawei are sensitive not only in Britain but also throughout Europe. On Thursday, the United States and about 30 other nations are meeting in Prague to debate what kind of standards should be used in determining who can build Western networks.
Like Britain, the Czech Republic has done considerable business with Huawei in the past, and is under pressure from the United States not to allow the company to build the core of its 5G network. Leaders in both London and in Prague are concerned about angering the Chinese over any decision involving Huawei, along with the cost to the economy if a decision turns into a broader confrontation with Beijing.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/wor...-may-fires-defense-minister-over-huawei-leak/
U.K. PM Theresa May fires defense minister over Huawei leak
Published 19 hours ago Updated May 2, 2019
British Prime Minister Theresa May fired defense minister Gavin Williamson on Wednesday over the leak of information about Chinese telecoms company Huawei.
Reuters
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson sacked over Huawei leak
- 1 May 2019
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Media captionOn Tuesday, before he was sacked by Theresa May, Gavin Williamson said in a BBC interview that he had never leaked anything from the NSC
Gavin Williamson has been sacked as defence secretary following an inquiry into a leak from a top-level National Security Council meeting.
Downing Street said the PM had "lost confidence in his ability to serve" and Penny Mordaunt will take on the role.
The inquiry followed reports over a plan to allow Huawei limited access to help build the UK's new 5G network.
Mr Williamson, who has been defence secretary since 2017, "strenuously" denies leaking the information.
In a meeting with Mr Williamson on Wednesday evening, Theresa May told him she had information that provided "compelling evidence" that he was responsible for the unauthorised disclosure.
In a letter confirming his dismissal, she said: "No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified."
Responding in a letter to the PM, Mr Williamson said he was "confident" that a "thorough and formal inquiry" would have "vindicated" his position.
"I appreciate you offering me the option to resign, but to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case," he said.
- As it happened: Reaction after Williamson sacking
- Exchange of letters between May and Williamson
- Profile: Gavin Williamson
- Kuenssberg: Now Williamson told to 'go away and shut up'
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said sources close to the former defence secretary had told her Mr Williamson did meet the Daily Telegraph's deputy political editor, Steven Swinford, but, she pointed out "that absolutely does not prove" he leaked the story to him.
According to Sky News defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall, Mr Williamson swore on his children's lives that he was not responsible for the leak.
Security correspondent Frank Gardner said the BBC had been told "more than one concerning issue" had been uncovered regarding Mr Williamson during the leak inquiry and not just the Huawei conversation.
Downing Street has made a very serious accusation and is sure enough to carry out this sacking.
For the prime minister's allies, it will show that she is, despite the political turmoil, still strong enough to move some of her ministers around - to hire and fire.
Mr Williamson is strenuously still denying that the leak was anything to do with him at all.
There is nothing fond, or anything conciliatory, in either the letter from the prime minister to him, or his reply back to her.
Read more from Laura
The National Security Council (NSC) is made up of senior cabinet ministers and its weekly meetings are chaired by the prime minister, with other ministers, officials and senior figures from the armed forces and intelligence agencies invited when needed.
It is a forum where secret intelligence can be shared by GCHQ, MI6 and MI5 with ministers, all of whom have signed the Official Secrets Act.
There has been no formal confirmation of Huawei's role in the 5G network and No 10 said a final decision would be made at the end of spring.
- Penny Mordaunt: UK's first female defence secretary
- Huawei: The story of a controversial company
- Inquiry to be held into Huawei leak
Mrs May said the leak from the meeting on 23 April was "an extremely serious matter and a deeply disappointing one".
Theresa May's letter to Gavin Williamson
It is vital for the operation of good government and for the UK's national interest in some of the most sensitive and important areas that the members of the NSC - from our armed forces, our security and intelligence agencies, and the most senior level of government - are able to have frank and detailed discussions in full confidence that the advice and analysis provided is not discussed or divulged beyond that trusted environment.
"That is why I commissioned the cabinet secretary to establish an investigation into the unprecedented leak from the NSC meeting last week, and why I expected everyone connected to it - ministers and officials alike - to comply with it fully. You undertook to do so.
"I am therefore concerned by the manner in which you have engaged with this investigation."
Read the rest of the letter in full
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the prime minister had no alternative but to sack Mr Williamson, but he said on a personal level he was "very sorry about what happened".
When asked whether there should be a criminal inquiry into the NSC leak, new defence secretary Ms Mordaunt said: "The prime minister has made her decision.
"What I'm focused on is getting on with the job."
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has called for a police inquiry to investigate whether or not Mr Williamson breached the Official Secrets Act.
That sentiment was echoed by former national security adviser Lord Ricketts. He told BBC Newsnight that on the face of it, the leak was a breach of the official secrets act and therefore the police ought to be considering an inquiry.
Lib Dems leader Vince Cable said Mr Williamson's sacking was "absolutely extraordinary" and the PM did it in "such a forthright way".
He added that he believed it was "clearly a police matter". His deputy, Jo Swinson, has asked the police to open an investigation.
But Scotland Yard said in a statement that it was a matter for the National Security Council and the Cabinet Office, and it was not carrying out an investigation.
Defence Committee chairman Julian Lewis told the BBC that Mr Williamson's sacking was a "loss" when looked at "purely" from the point of view of defence.
He said he thought "very highly" of Ms Mordaunt - the first woman to take the role of defence secretary.
Rory Stewart has been confirmed as the new international development secretary, taking over from Ms Mordaunt.
Mr Stewart said he believed the prime minister and national security adviser had "made the right decision" in sacking Mr Williamson.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/01/...cretary-fired-huawei-leak-gbr-intl/index.html
UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson fired over Huawei leak
By Bianca Britton, CNN
Updated 2032 GMT (0432 HKT) May 1, 2019
Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has been asked to step down by British Prime Minister Theresa May.
London (CNN)British Prime Minister Theresa May has fired her Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson over the leaking of a key decision related to the Chinese telecoms company Huawei from a UK National Security Council meeting.
May's surprise decision followed an inquiry into how the Daily Telegraph newspaper discovered that the UK government was preparing to give Huawei access to parts of the country's 5G mobile network.
"The Prime Minister has this evening asked Gavin Williamson to leave the Government, having lost confidence in his ability to serve his role of Defence Secretary and as a member of her Cabinet," the statement said.
UK could give Huawei a limited role in building its 5G networks
"The Prime Minister's decision has been informed by his conduct surrounding an investigation into the circumstances of the unauthorized disclosure of information from a meeting of the UK National Security Council."
Williamson "strenuously" denied he was the source of the leak, in a letter posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday night.
"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," he said.
"I strongly deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position."
Williamson added that he chose not to accept Prime Minister May's offer for him to resign because it would have suggested that he was guilty.
The Daily Telegraph's leaked story was controversial because of allegations by some Western countries, including the United States, that Huawei products could be used by China for spying.
Huawei, the world's largest supplier of telecom equipment, has repeatedly denied the accusations. While Australia has already barred its equipment from the country's 5G networks, Huawei has fought hard to convince the United Kingdom that its products are safe for use.
Following the leak, an inquiry was launched by Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill after the information from the secret discussions on April 23 was published in the paper.
In a letter to Williamson, May said it was an "extremely serious matter, and a deeply disappointing one."
"It is vital that I have full confidence in the members of my Cabinet and of the National Security Council. The gravity of this issue alone, and its ramifications for the operation of the NSC and the UK's national interest, warrants the serious steps we have taken, and an equally serious response."
British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Number 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament on May 1.
Following the announcement, several MPs called for Williamson to face criminal charges.
Opposition Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said the former Defense Secretary "should be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act" and "should forgo his ministerial severance pay," according to Britain's Press Association (PA) news agency.
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable also argued that Williamson should be referred to London's Metropolitan Police "for a thorough criminal investigation," PA added.
However Scotland Yard, the headquarters for the Met Police, said in a statement that they were aware of the leak but were not carrying out an investigation at this stage, according to PA.
"Clearly if at any stage we receive any information that would suggest criminal offences have been committed, then we will look into that," it added.
May shortly after Williamson was fired that Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt would replace him. She will be the country's first female defense secretary.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/world/europe/uk-defense-secretary-huawei.html
Gavin Williamson, U.K. Defense Chief, Is Fired Over Huawei Leak
Britain’s defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, who was dismissed on Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May, is seen leaving her residence in January.CreditNeil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock
Image
Britain’s defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, who was dismissed on Wednesday by Prime Minister Theresa May, is seen leaving her residence in January.CreditCreditNeil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock
By Stephen Castle and Adam Satariano
- May 1, 2019
Mrs. May’s announcement was made after an investigation into a report in The Daily Telegraph about discussions in Britain’s National Security Council, of which Mr. Williamson was a member, and where secrecy is meant to be strictly observed.
The report suggested that Mrs. May had overruled objections from some senior council members, including Mr. Williamson, about allowing the Chinese company, Huawei, to build some elements of the next-generation cellular data network known as 5G.
The government later said no decision had yet been made.
But the leak provoked a negative reaction from the United States, which has been on a campaign to pressure other countries to bar Huawei from building 5G networks, saying its equipment is vulnerable to Chinese state espionage, an assertion the company denies.
Robert L. Strayer, the deputy assistant secretary for cyber and international communications and information policy at the State Department, said this week that any use of the Chinese company posed a potential security risk.
The firing of Mr. Williamson, once a close ally of Mrs. May, also underscored the volatility of her government, which has lost more than 30 ministers since she came to power in 2016.
World Press Freedom Day
See why an independent press is vital to democracy
After his dismissal, Mr. Williamson denied being responsible for The Daily Telegraph article, which appeared within hours of the council’s meeting, making it one of the most serious government information breaches in recent memory.
“I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak,” he said in a letter released publicly.
Huawei has become a flash point as governments around the world set policies for creating the high-speed 5G networks, which many in the technology industry believe will lead to breakthroughs in transportation, health care, manufacturing and other fields.
At stake are billions of dollars in contracts to provide the equipment for the new networks.
The United States has struggled to persuade European allies to ban the company, even after officials said it may limit intelligence-sharing with countries that allow Huawei. Germany, for example, has said it was unlikely to impose a ban.
Huawei has already been part of Britain’s telecommunications infrastructure for more than 15 years, though it is kept out of functions that handle customer data and manage the network’s overall operations.
Britain’s top intelligence officials said this year that any security risks posed by Huawei could be mitigated with strong oversight.
At a lab an hour outside London, the company’s products are subjected to security reviews overseen by government officials in what is considered one of the world’s most thorough procedures.
If Britain did involve Huawei in creating its 5G system, that would be an important victory for the company because Britain is a critical market.
Decisions on Huawei are sensitive not only in Britain but also throughout Europe. On Thursday, the United States and about 30 other nations are meeting in Prague to debate what kind of standards should be used in determining who can build Western networks.
Like Britain, the Czech Republic has done considerable business with Huawei in the past, and is under pressure from the United States not to allow the company to build the core of its 5G network. Leaders in both London and in Prague are concerned about angering the Chinese over any decision involving Huawei, along with the cost to the economy if a decision turns into a broader confrontation with Beijing.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/wor...-may-fires-defense-minister-over-huawei-leak/
U.K. PM Theresa May fires defense minister over Huawei leak
Published 19 hours ago Updated May 2, 2019
British Prime Minister Theresa May fired defense minister Gavin Williamson on Wednesday over the leak of information about Chinese telecoms company Huawei.
Reuters
