A FORMER MI6 boss has insisted the US won't cut the UK off from its intelligence sharing if Huawei is allowed to help build the UK's 5G internet.

Sir John Sawers said today that the US "needs" British intelligence which helps foil terror attacks in America - and said threats from President Trump were just sabre rattling.

2 Sir John said that Huawei should be allowed access to the UK's 5G network Credit: Getty - Pool

He told BBC Radio 4 that China posed a security risk to the UK, but said intelligence services were well up to the job of managing it.

"There is no doubt China does pose an espionage threat to the UK, we shouldn't be naive about that," he said.

"We believe we can manage the risk, we have been doing so in the last 15 years or so."

There are fears that Huawei, who are heavily influenced by the Chinese government, could use their technology to spy on the public and gain valuable information on the UK if they were to help build part of our 5G internet network

Some critics have even warned that they could even install a "back door" to disable the UK's communications network.

Sir John said the row between the US and the UK was exaggerated - after President Trump threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing between the two nations if we give Huawei the green light.

"When I was chief of MI6 there were major terror plots against the US that we here in the UK foiled and prevented them from taking place," he revealed.

"We depend a great deal on our five eyes partners (the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK) but they also depend on us."

When I was chief of MI6 there were major terror plots against the US that we here in the UK foiled and prevented them from taking place Sir John Sawers

"(The US) know they depend on us for security intel, and it is unlikely they will increase the threat to them by curbing our intelligence partnerships," he said.

Both BT and Vodafone are preparing to back the move to give Huawei access, and are set to send a letter to the Prime Minister not to back down in the face of President Trump's threats.

Sir John said President Trump was playing the long-game and using the Huawei row as a chip in his trade war against China.

The EU has urged Boris Johnson to call Donald Trump's bluff over the firm.

2 Boris Johnson and Donald Trump are in the middle of a row over intelligence sharing Credit: AFP

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Australian politicians banned Huawei from participating in their own 5G mobile infrastructure after concerns it could be a conduit for espionage, but the former MI6 boss said it was not the right position.

He said: "We have to be clear, China does post an economic, strategic challenge, and there is an intelligence risk but do you exclude all Chinese students?

"Refuse to take Chinese contracts, or manage the risk?"

Other European countries such a Germany have already agreed to give Huawei access to their 5G Networks.

US President Donald Trump says he will look into reported ties between Huawei Technologies and North Korea