Conservative MPs are pressuring Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give a fixed date for removing all Huawei equipment from UK 5G networks, reports The Telegraph.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Bob Seely said Parliament was growing increasingly concerned about the UK's dependency on China and want a concrete pledge from the government within two months. They argue that a ban on new Huawei equipment being installed from 2023/2024 is not sufficient, and warn that 59 MPs have now joined the Huawei Interest Group of Conservative MPs.
A source close to this group of MPs told The Telegraph that they could all vote against the Government and support rebel amendments to three bills scheduled to go before Parliament before the summer recess. This includes the Telecoms Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill currently at the committee stage in the House of Lords. The Telegraph has seen a draft amendment, proposed by Lord Alton, to stop companies with connections to human rights abuses from supplying telecoms infrastructure to leasehold properties from 2024.
