Britain is risking a repeat of the Huawei affair by sounding out Chinese state firms to build High Speed 2, senior Tories have warned.

MPs claimed that the Government was putting the country’s relationship with key allies under further strain by encouraging China’s involvement in the construction of the £56 billion rail line.

Last month Mark Thurston, the chief executive of the government-owned firm responsible for HS2, flew to Beijing for talks with five rail firms ultimately owned by the communist state.

China's National Development and Reform Commission announced that the discussions related to a “wholesale package to build the UK's second high-speed railway line”.

Such a deal would lead to firms wholly owned by the Chinese state building Britain’s biggest infrastructure project. Meanwhile allies such as the US have been taking measures to restrict China's investment in its key national infrastructure.

Last week, Gavin Williamson was sacked as defence secretary having been accused of leaking information about a decision by Theresa May to give Huawei, the Chinese firm, limited access to the country’s 5G networks.

He strenuously denies the claim, and yesterday the Metropolitan Police said the leak did not constitute a criminal office.