Iain Duncan Smith compares China to Nazi Germany in Huawei row

Iain Duncan Smith compared China to the Nazi Germany today as MPs demand the government shuts Huawei out of the UK’s 5G network.

The ex-Cabinet minister suggested the tech giant’s involvement was equivalent to giving a German firm a role in developing British radar systems in 1939.

Boris Johnson announced in January that Huawei will be permitted to take a ‘limited’ part in the comms upgrade.

Despite furious opposition from Donald Trump, the PM said security services had concluded that the risks could be managed.

There were fears that rejecting the Chinese company would increase costs and delay the completion of the crucial scheme.

However, the firm was not classed as a ‘trusted’ vendor for core elements, and will not be allowed to take more than a 35 per cent share of contracts.

In a debate in Westminster Hall today, Mr Duncan Smith and other Tory MPs demanded that the government reduce Huawei’s involvement to zero by 2023.

He told MPs the Government’s decision had left the UK ‘friendless’ among its Five Eyes security allies.

Sir Iain said: ‘The decision by the UK Government, frankly, leaves us utterly friendless amongst our allies.

‘We’re in a mess and the only way to get out of that mess is … to ensure that Huawei reduces from its present position not to 35 per cent that the Government wants, but simply down to zero per cent.’ 

Sir Iain added: ‘Can I just simply say, imagine in 1939 had we been developing our radar systems, we decided actually to have one of the Nazi companies in Germany involved directly in doing it.

‘This is the level. ”Oh, but we reduced to the 35 per cent of the involvement, so only 35 per cent was controlled by them”.

‘I wonder, how ridiculous that is.’