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Theresa May has sacked Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over the leak of sensitive information about Huawei from the National Security Council.

The Prime Minister sacked Mr Williamson because of his "conduct surrounding" the investigation into leak following details of a meeting of the secretive committee being reported in the press.

But Mr Williamson insists he was not responsible for the disclosure.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, he said: "I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my Department. I emphatically believe this was not the case.

"I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position."

But in a brutal dismissal letter, Mrs May said she was "concerned by the manner in which you have engaged with this investigation."

She went on to say all other members of the cabinet had fully cooperated with the inquiry, but he had not.

(Image: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX)

She went on: "In our meeting this evening, I put to you the latest information from the investigation, which provides compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure.

"No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified."

She concluded that she had no other option but to sack him, as she had lost confidence in him as a minister.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has this evening asked Gavin Williamson to leave the Government, having lost confidence in his ability to serve in the role of Defence Secretary and as a member of her Cabinet.



“The Prime Minister’s decision has been informed by his conduct surrounding an investigation into the circumstances of the unauthorised disclosure of information from a meeting of the National Security Council.



“The Prime Minister thanks all members of the National Security Council for their full cooperation and candour during the investigation and considers the matter closed.”

(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX)

Mr Williamson will be replaced as defence Secretary by Penny Mordaunt, who will be the first woman to hold the job.

The sacking comes after a Whitehall enquiry into a leak after the details emerged in the press about a meeting of the highly secretive National Security Council.

It emerged the day after a meeting at which Theresa May and senior ministers discussed the issue with chiefs of security and intelligence agencies.



Theresa May was reported to have given the green light for the Chinese tech giant to help build "non-core" parts of the UK's 5G communications network.



Reports suggested intelligence bigwigs were angry at the unprecedented leak from a forum at which sensitive matters are discussed openly in confidence that they will not be shared more widely.

(Image: Getty Images) (Image: PA)





Some of the UK's closest allies have blocked Huawei from work on their own networks because of security concerns.



The US has banned Huawei from its government networks and Australia also has restrictions in place, but there is no united position within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance which also includes the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

Theresa May's letter sacking Gavin Williamson in full

10 DOWNING STREET LONDON SW1A 2AA

THE PRIME MINISTER 1 May 2019

Dear Gavin

Thank you for your time this evening. We discussed the investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of information from the National Security Council meeting on 23 April.

This is an extremely serious matter, and a deeply disappointing one. It is vital for the operation of good government and for the UK’s national interest in some of the most sensitive and important areas that the members of the NSC — from our Armed Forces, our Security and Intelligence Agencies, and the most senior level of Government — are able to have frank and detailed discussions in full confidence that the advice and analysis provided is not discussed or divulged beyond that trusted environment.

That is why I commissioned the Cabinet Secretary to establish an investigation into the unprecedented leak from the NSC meeting last week, and why I expected everyone connected to it — Ministers and officials alike — to comply with it fully. You undertook to do so.

I am therefore concerned by the manner in which you have engaged with this investigation. It has been conducted fairly, with the full co-operation of other NSC attendees. They have all answered questions, engaged properly, provided as much information as possible to assist with the investigation, and encouraged their staff to do the same. Your conduct has not been of the same standard as others’.

In our meeting this evening, I put to you the latest information from the investigation, which provides compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure. No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified. It is vital that I have full confidence in the members of my Cabinet and of the National Security Council. The gravity of this issue alone, and its ramifications for the operation of the NSC and the UK’s national interest, warrants the serious steps we have taken, and an equally serious response.

It is therefore with great sadness that I have concluded that I can no longer have full confidence in you as Secretary of State for Defence and a Minister in my Cabinet and asked you to leave Her Majesty’s Government.

As you do so, I would like to thank you for the wider contribution you have made

to it over the last three years, and for your unquestionable personal commitment to the men and women of our Armed Forces.

Yours Sincerely

Theresa May