Defence minister Tobias Ellwood broke ranks on Thursday to say he agreed with Donald Trump’s top diplomat about the risk Chinese firm Huawei poses to Britain.

In a swipe at the Prime Minister, he also threw his weight behind Mike Pompeo’s comment that the late former PM Margaret Thatcher would have taken a tougher stance on the issue.

His comments came after the US Secretary of State flew into Britain and tore into Theresa May’s plan to allow the firm to help build part of the UK’s 5G network.

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Conservative Party MP Tobias Ellwood agreed with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the dangers posed by Huawei

He warned such a deal could put the UK’s security relationship with America at risk.

Mr Ellwood, who worked under Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson who was sacked for leaking details of plans on Huawei, told LBC Radio: ‘I’m very concerned.

‘I was with the new Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt with Sec Pompeo last night and we discussed these issues and others in detail.

‘I would agree with everything that Pompeo has actually said. It is very important we control the sensitive parts of 5G networks.

He went on: ‘It is very very important given the fundamental changes to our lifestyles that 5G will bring.

‘With machines being able to talk to machines, artificial intelligence, automation, the ability to press a button on a mobile phone and an automated car turns up.

Mr Ellwood also said Margaret Thatcher would have taken a tougher stance on the issue than Mrs May (pictured)

‘The security behind that is absolutely fundamental to our way of life is not to be disrupted.

‘We have to have faith it works. So it so important that the Five Eyes community… is able to work together and trust each other.’ Mr Pompeo had also invoked Margaret Thatcher, saying the Iron Lady would have taken a tougher stance on China.

‘Ask yourself: Would the Iron Lady be silent when China violates the sovereignty of nations through corruption or coercion?’ Mr Pompeo said at the Centre for Policy Studies, a conservative British think-tank in London.

Mr Ellwood added: ‘The words he said, and in arguing, going back to what Margaret Thatcher would have decided, I would agree and I would hope it is exactly what we are going to do.’

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: ‘Our clear existing position that if national security concerns arise with any foreign investment or procurement, the government will assess the risks and consider what course of action to take.’

He said the UK had a ‘strong relationship’ with China, adding: ‘But there are several areas where we have expressed our concerns about China’s behaviour and that includes significant and widespread cyber intrusions against the UK and our allies.’