Boris Johnson’s new spin doctor Guto Harri did NOT break lobbying rules with text messages asking which ministers could be ‘nudged’ on controversial Chinese telecom giant Huawei, Downing Street says
- Guto Harri cleared of breaking rules over lobbying for telecoms giant Huawei
- He requested help as Huawei tried to stop a ban of its equipment in June 2020
- The spin doctor asked PM’s chief of staff which ministers could be given ‘nudge’
- Next month telecoms firms told to strip Huawei equipment from 5G networks
Lobbying by Boris Johnson’s new spin doctor when he was working on behalf of controversial Chinese telecoms giant Huawei did not break any rules, Downing Street insisted yesterday.
Guto Harri requested help from the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff Lord Lister as Huawei tried to stop its equipment being banned from the UK’s 5G mobile phone network.
According to minutes of a 25-minute video call in June 2020, which was also attended by Huawei executives, Mr Harri asked Lord Lister which ministers could be given a ‘nudge’.
The following month, telecoms firms were ordered by the Government to strip Huawei equipment from 5G networks by 2027 over security fears.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said yesterday the meeting was ‘within the rules’ and ‘we met with a number of interested parties at that time while that discussion was taking place’.
Lord Lister reportedly told the executives that Mr Johnson was not ‘anti-China’ and did not want to ban the firm but was ‘caught’ between that instinct and US and Tory pressure.
According to minutes obtained by The Sun, he said: ‘We want the technology, we want it rolled out.
Guto Harri, Boris Johnson’s new spin doctor, pictured walking along Downing Street on Tuesday
‘There’s an American concern and a parliamentary concern. There are a large number of MPs across the political divide who have a problem with China.
‘Some are Atlanticists, some over Covid, some over Hong Kong, some over human rights.’
In response to the leak, Downing Street said Mr Johnson had described himself as a ‘Sinophile’ but the Government had a ‘clear-eyed’ approach to Beijing.
His spokesman said: ‘It’s in the UK’s interest to have an effective relationship with China.’
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