5G devices are seen at China's first 5G Hotel demonstration during the Huawei HAS2019 Global Analyst Summit on April 16, 2019 | Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images Theresa May faces backlash over plans to allow Huawei into ‘non-core’ networks According to media reports, Chinese firm would be allowed to provide equipment for parts of the network not deemed critical.

LONDON — Theresa May faced a backlash from senior Tory MPs on Wednesday after leaks suggested that the U.K. government is planning to allow Huawei equipment into "non-core" parts of its 5G network.

The National Security Council, which is chaired by the prime minister, agreed on Tuesday to ban Huawei from core parts of the U.K.’s 5G network, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph,

But the Chinese telecom giant would be allowed to provide equipment for parts of the network not deemed critical. At the security council meeting “several ministers” raised concerns about allowing Huawei partial access to any parts of the network, instead arguing for a total ban on the supplier, according to a separate account of the meeting briefed to the Guardian.

A government official familiar with the discussion told POLITICO that nothing has “categorically” been decided and discussions are still ongoing.

Yet Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP who chairs parliament’s science and technology select committee, told POLITICO it is clear there was significant disagreement within the government over the reported decision.

“It is vital that this country makes its own decisions regarding matters of national security ..." — Norman Lamb

His committee is now likely to convene an evidence session “very soon” to scrutinize the decision, question ministers and hear directly from Huawei, he added.

“It is vital that this country makes its own decisions regarding matters of national security, rather than bowing to pressure from others," said Lamb. "However, protecting our national security is non-negotiable. Judgments must be based on evidence and a robust evaluation of risk.”

Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is due to travel to Beijing on Thursday, struck a more conciliatory note.

"Where our security experts tell us that there are ways in which we can maintain security, whether it’s of networks or installations, that avoid the most economically costly outcomes, then we should look very carefully at those options," he said after the hearing.

'Politically motivated leak'

Other officials pointed to the possibility that a briefing to newspapers about the confidential meeting could have been politically motivated, given that May faces strong opposition from within her own party.

An official told POLITICO they think there are "currently five leadership candidates sitting in the National Security Council" when asked about the leak.

Tom Tugendhat, who chairs parliament's foreign affairs select committee, tweeted his opposition to allowing Huawei into the network.

"Allowing Huawei into the UK’s 5G infrastructure would cause allies to doubt our ability to keep data secure and erode the trust essential to #FiveEyes cooperation. There’s a reason others have said no," he wrote.

Leading Brexiteer Owen Paterson, who has been a very vocal critic of May's Brexit strategy, also took to Twitter to question if the move is really sensible.

The U.S. ... has banned Huawei from its government networks

Senior ministers had been discussing a draft of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s telecoms supply chain review, which includes recommendations about the security of the network.

The U.S., which has banned Huawei from its government networks, has been putting pressure on other partners in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance — the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Canada — to follow its lead.

The U.K. National Cyber Security Centre earlier released its annual evaluation on Huawei’s security standards, arguing that the company’s software had significant holes and vulnerabilities that it needs to fix.

Ciaran Martin, head of the cyberagency, told the BBC Wednesday morning that “we face fund challenges in telecommunication security” and “this issue is bigger than one company.”

“5G is an important chance,” Martin said, adding the technology — which would support internet-connected cars, devices and factories — could change “some of the ways we think of security” but doesn’t change the fundamental handling risks.

A spokesperson from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said security council discussions are "confidential."

"Decisions from those meetings are made and announced at the appropriate time through the established processes," said the spokesperson.