Downing Street has defended the appointment of a new spin chief after it emerged he advised Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Guto Harri was named Downing Street director of communications in a No 10 shake-up as Boris Johnson scrambles to regain control of his crisis-hit premiership.
The former journalist, who has previously worked as an adviser to Mr Johnson, resigned from Hawthorn Advisers to take on his new role in No 10.
The lobbying firm included Huawei as a client when he worked there, with sources telling the Sun he had “a hands-on role”.
Huawei technology will be stripped from the UK's 5G network by 2027 after a Government U-turn in 2020.
Minister initially said Huawei could play a limited role in the broadband infrastructure but abandoned the plan following pressure from Washington.
Labour's Angela Rayner said: “We need full transparency from Guto Harri about all contact he had with Government in his former role and who his clients were."
Downing Street was asked if there were any security concerns or conflicts of interest in his appointment.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "No. He provided advice to the clients of a private company. This is entirely legitimate, it's in the public domain.
“We wouldn’t exclude from government someone with valuable experience and expertise.
“Our position on Huawei is clear. We have strict controls in the way that Huawei is currently deployed."
He refused to comment on security, but added: "Anyone coming in goes through requisite checks.”
Asked if Mr Johnson had any meetings with Mr Harri in his previous post, the spokesman said: "I'm not aware of any. I think there obviously has to be transparency returns which the PM adheres to and are published. I'm not aware specifically."
Mr Harri took over No 10's spin operation following the departure of Jack Doyle, who told aides the Partygate row had taken a "terrible toll" on his family life.
Mr Doyle, a former Daily Mail journalist, was believed to have attended at least two of the parties being investigated.
His successor arrived in Downing Street on Monday morning clutching a bag full of mineral water and healthy snacks - in a nod to the partygate row.
But he made waves on his first day in office by revealing that Mr Johnson sang Gloria Gaynor's hit "I Will Survive" when they met last week.
Mr Harri told Welsh language magazine Golwg 360 the pair sang the disco classic before getting into a serious discussion about the future.
Describing the PM, he said: "He's not a complete clown, he's a very likeable character."
The Prime Minister has also appointed Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay as chief of staff after losing a string of senior aides last week.
Henry Newman, a close ally of the PM's wife Carrie, is returning to work for his former boss Michael Gove and has left in a "mutually agreed decision with the Prime Minister".
Mrs Johnson's influence has been under intense scrutiny following publication of extracts from a critical biography into her role in No 10.
The PM's wife put out a rare public statement on Sunday, accusing "bitter" ex-officials of a "brutal" briefing campaign against her.
The PM's official spokesman said there would be further changes "in the coming days".
"We still need to announce the new permanent secretary for No 10, for example. So there will be additional recruitment into No 10 and there's an ongoing process for the PPS (principal private secretary) role too, so that needs to be announced."
