Responding to the Government’s announcement that Huawei will be allowed to control up to 35% of non-core elements of the UK’s 5G networks, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Daisy Cooper MP, said:

This decision shows how little regard the Conservative Government has for Huawei’s human rights record. Boris Johnson must now condemn the use of Huawei’s surveillance technology in the repression of the Uyghur Muslims in the strongest possible terms. Brexit Britain must not be an excuse to ignore human rights when making trade deals, signing public contracts and deciding who gets to run critical infrastructure.

Giving Huawei – which has reportedly received billions in state aid from China – access to more than a third of the 5G network also flies in the face of the Government’s aim to support new companies to market. We urgently need the R&D investment to lower our reliance on Huawei and we need strong partnerships with the EU and Five Eyes to ensure any security risks are swiftly dealt with.

Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up for people’s human rights, security and right to privacy, no matter where they live.

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