Kwasi Kwarteng gives green light to Chinese firm accused of spying in US

Exclusive:

British police radio supplier Hytera Communications is facing espionage charges in the United States and has been branded an "unacceptable risk to the national security"

Kwasi Kwarteng has questions to answer (

Image: via Reuters)

Struggling Kwasi Kwarteng is facing questions over allowing a company to continue supplying British police radios despite a US security blacklist for its Chinese owners.

Chancellor Mr Kwarteng, whose mini-budget drove markets higher, signed security pledges from UK firm Sepura and its parent company Hytera Communications last year.

His appointment as commercial secretary came as Hytera faced espionage charges in the United States and was branded an "unacceptable risk to national security".

Hytera, partly financed by China, sold Sepura this summer.

Secretary of State for Labor Jonathan Reynolds said: "For years we have asked the government to be clear about the risks of Chinese investment.

“They urgently need to clarify the basis for signing these pledges.”

Hytera bought Cambridge-based Sepura in 2017. Its devices are used by thousands of police officers, including to protect the royal family, politicians and sensitive government sites.

The takeover was approved by then-Commercial Secretary Greg Clark after Hytera gave assurances that only Sepura personnel with strict clearance would be able to access the classified documents.

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