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Theresa May has sacked Gavin Williamson as defence secretary following an investigation over leaked information about Chinese mobile giant Huawei from a confidential meeting.

Downing Street said Mrs May asked Mr Williamson to leave the Government this evening having "lost confidence in his ability to serve".

The decision had been "informed by his conduct" during an investigation into the leak, a statement added.

The PM told Mr Williamson in a letter confirming his dismissal there was "compelling evidence" he was responsible for leaking details from a National Security Council (NSC) meeting to a newspaper.

In a letter to Mrs May, the 42-year-old "strenuously" denied this. Speaking to Sky News correspondent Alistair Bunkall, he swore on his "children's lives" he was not behind the unauthorised disclosure.

Mr Williamson was immediately replaced in his role by International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt.

She will be the UK's first female defence secretary and retains the job of minister for women and equalities.

An inquiry by Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill was launched after information from secret discussions about Huawei's involvement in the development of the UK's 5G mobile network was printed in the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Williamson was listed in the Telegraph as being among a small group of ministers whose warnings about the telecom's firm involvement were overruled by the Prime Minister.

A Downing Street spokesman 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."

Mr Williamson has been defence secretary since 2017 when he replaced Sir Michael Fallon following his resignation.

The Prime Minister confronted him in a meeting on Wednesday evening. "No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified," she told him in a letter.

She said the leak from the April 23 meeting was "an extremely serious matter and a deeply disappointing one".

While leaks from cabinet meetings are relatively frequent, it is unprecedented for private conversations from a forum where the most senior ministers are briefed by heads of the security and intelligence agencies to reach the public.

Mrs May said it was "vital for the operation of good government and for the UK's national interest" for NSC members to be 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".

Informing Mr Williamson of his dismissal, she said she was "concerned" at the manner in which he had engaged with Sir Mark's inquiry.

"It has been conducted fairly, with the full co-operation of other NSC attendees," she wrote.

"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'."

Last week Mr Williamson denied being responsible for the leak, issuing a statement to say: "Neither I nor any of my team have divulged information from the National Security Council."

It is understood that Sir Mark interviewed members of the NSC as well as asking them to hand over their mobile phones so they could be checked for any trace of contacts with journalists.

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: "If he has leaked from the National Security Council, Gavin Williamson should be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act. And he should forgo his ministerial severance pay."

And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: "This story cannot begin and end with dismissal from office.

"What is at stake is the capacity of our security services to give advice at the highest level.

"This must now be referred to the Metropolitan Police for a thorough criminal investigation."

And Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson has written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick calling for a criminal investigation.

Asked about the possibility of a prosecution, Mrs May's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: "It is not for the Government to determine prosecutions, but the Prime Minister has said, from her point of view, that she considers the matter to be closed."

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "We're aware of the media reports in relation to the leak and that is a matter for the National Security Council and the Cabinet Office to look at.

"At this time, we're not carrying out an investigation. Clearly if at any stage we receive any information that would suggest criminal offences have been committed, then we will look into that."

South Staffordshire MP Mr Williamson was a surprise appointment as defence secretary in November 2017, after a meteoric rise which saw him enter the Cabinet without ever having served in a junior ministerial role.

He was one of Mrs May's closest allies after she made him chief whip on entering Downing Street in 2016.

But during his time in the Cabinet, he showed increasing signs of independence from the PM and was widely regarded as preparing for a tilt at the top job when she stands down.