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Williamson sacked as Defence Secretary over Huawei leak

Gavin Williamson has been sacked as defence secretary following an inquiry into a leak from a top-level National Security Council meeting.

Having been Defence Secretary since 2017, Williamson ‘strenuously’ denies leaking the information concerning giving Huawei limited access to help build the UK's new 5G network.

He said in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May that ‘to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case’. Downing Street maintains that it has ‘compelling evidence’ and the matter is closed.

Minister of State for the Armed Forces Penny Mordaunt will take on the roll of Defence Secretary.

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