Theresa May sacks British defence minister Gavin Williamson over Huawei leak
- In letter to Williamson, May says she has ‘compelling evidence’ he is behind ‘unauthorised disclosure’ of plan to let Huawei build parts of UK’s 5G network
- Denying he was involved, Williamson said he was offered chance to resign but turned it down as it would have been an acceptance of guilt
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday sacked Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson following a probe into the leak of news that Britain had conditionally allowed China’s Huawei to develop the UK 5G network.
“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,” said a spokeswoman from her Downing Street office.
May said in a letter to Williamson that the investigation “provides compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure” from the April 23 meeting of the National Security Council.
“No other credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified,” she added.
“This is an extremely serious matter and a deeply disappointing one,” she added, with Williamson now facing the possibility of a criminal probe.