Theresa May privately demanded strict new national security checks on Chinese companies seeking to take over British industries, a former cabinet colleague has revealed.

Sir Vince Cable, business secretary until last year, suggested the Prime Minister had a “general prejudice” against Chinese investments in Britain and wanted to emulate American rules banning foreign takeovers that could undermine security.

The disclosure came after Mrs May delayed a decision on whether to allow the China-backed Hinkley Point nuclear project to go ahead. Speaking to the Telegraph, Sir Vince detailed Mrs May’s long-held security concerns over China’s involvement in the £18 billion nuclear power plant in Somerset and other business links with China.

He said she was “never completely satisfied about Huawei”, the Chinese telecommunications giant, which has a major partnership with BT.

“I and others thought they were a good thing but I think she was worried about them,” he said.