More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A Kent MP has called for a police investigation into a leak of secret government technology talks.
Sir Michael Fallon is backing calls for a criminal inquiry into the disclosure of secret talks between ministers and security chiefs about Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
It follows a leak that the National Security Council (NSC), which hold confidential talks, had approved Huawei's bid to be in the running for building Britain's new 5G network.
Talking to Sky News, the Sevenoaks MP said: "I think it's completely unprecedented. I don't think it's ever happened before and it's shocking."
The details of the leak were revealed in The Telegraph on Wednesday, with a list of cabinet ministers who raised concerns.
But there are fears the Chinese company may have close links to the Chinese government, prompting security breach worries.
Sir Michael said: "There should be an inquiry underway and we need to find out fairly urgently who did leak this.
"That's why I think the cabinet secretary, who is also the national security advisor, should be calling in the police to identify who this was, not least, to make sure it never ever happens again."
Labour is also demanding a full investigation.
Sir Michael said potential charges need to be looked into: "It's a criminal offence to leak top secret information like this and that's why we need to find out who did it.
"In the NSC you're dealing with the most sensitive information of all... It really is important that nothing goes out of that room."
He added: "I'm surprised that the person who did it really thought they could get away with it.
"Ministers are not exempt from the law... Ministers and officials - and we don't know at this stage who did this - all of them in that room are subject to the Official Secrets Act and they could be prosecuted if they break that act."
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