New money for favors fears as Labor MP slams Huawei for offering to fund his constituency projects
- Labor MP Neil Coyle claims Huawei approached him to offer him grants
- Mr Coyle alerted Parliament security amid concerns over Chinese links
- Huawei has faced sanctions from several countries, including the United States
- The UK also announced in 2020 that it would be phased out of 5G networks by 2027
An MP has reported Huawei to parliamentary authorities after approaching it to offer funding for constituency projects, The Mail on Sunday has learned.
Labor MP Neil Coyle says the Chinese telecoms giant has approached him to offer grants, including for computer services for school children.
He raised his concerns with Parliament’s security director amid concerns over the company’s alleged close ties to China’s ruling Communist Party.
MPs say the tech giant could buy the silence of elected officials if they feel beholden to the company over funding.
Huawei claims it is not controlled by China. But he faced sanctions from several countries, including the United States. The UK government announced in 2020 that the company’s products would be removed from 5G networks by 2027.
Labor MP Neil Coyle was approached by Chinese telecoms giant Huawei and offered grants
The code of conduct for MPs stipulates that they must register any donation or support received. However, the rules do not specify whether they must report donations to projects in their constituencies. Politicians could feel compelled to support or remain silent if a company that has funded local projects bids for an infrastructure contract, MPs have said.
Mr Coyle said he was informally approached by a member of a lobbying firm to invite him to a meeting with Huawei. “They told me Huawei was offering to fund projects – it was suggested it was millions of pounds,” he said of the discussion in November last year.
“The conclusion was that you just ask for what you want. The computer kit for schools was discussed.
After reporting it, Mr Coyle agreed to a further meeting with a Huawei director, former Tory MP Kris Hopkins, in Parliament in February this year. “They said they would send more information and I left it there,” he said.
Huawei admits the meetings but disputes the numbers and said it was actually offering used laptops.
Mr Coyle denies this and says the company was offering funding for new projects.
Mr Coyle added: ‘To be very clear, the funding would be an undeclared MP-negotiated grant of a significant sum which is highly irregular, especially given the sums advertised.’ The level of support that might be accessible is clearly important.
“That’s how China gained influence under Cameron and Osborne. It’s the same informal way it works in China.
Huawei says it is not controlled by China, but Mr Coyle alerted Parliament security amid concerns over the company’s alleged close ties to China’s ruling Communist Party.
“They want MPs to be friends with a company owned by an authoritarian regime threatening a democracy that we work closely with.” It is believed that Mr. Coyle was referring to Taiwan.
He added: “They don’t throw money away without gain.
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Tugendhat said: “Reports of secret lobbying are very disturbing, particularly from a company linked to the Chinese Communist Party.”
The tech giant regularly donates to major UK universities.
The Parliamentary Security Officer declined to comment.
A Huawei spokesperson denied the claims over the suggestion of millions of pounds in funding.
‘All of these allegations are false and Mr Coyle is wrong to say that we claimed to have such large sums of money to spend on projects for MPs’ constituencies,’ he said.
“In fact, we’ve discussed our donations of a small number of recycled used laptops to charities who distribute them to schools and community projects where they feel they are most needed.”
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