UK government appoints Penny Mordaunt as defence secretary after firing Gavin Williamson
UK's new defence secretary Penny Mordaunt
Britain's government said on Wednesday thatPenny Mordaunt had been named defence secretary to replace Gavin Williamson, who was sacked over the leak of information about Chinese telecoms company Huawei.
Mordaunt was previously the minister for international development.
Rory Stewart was named Britain's cabinet secretary for international development in the reshuffle. The move comes after British Prime Minister Theresa May fired her defence minister over a leak of discussions in the National Security Council about Chinese telecoms company Huawei, the latest of her allies to be ousted from government.
In a letter to Williamson, May wrote that an investigation into the leaks had provided "compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure".
"No other, credible version of events to explain this leak has been identified," she added after putting the "latest information from the investigation" to Williamson earlier on Wednesday.
Williamson, who rose quickly up the ranks of the governing Conservative Party after backing May to become prime minister in 2016, denied responsibility.
"I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my department. I emphatically believe this was not the case."
"I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position."