CABINET ministers and their special advisors face having their email and mobile phone records seized as the Whitehall probe into who leaked sensitive information from the National Security Council intensifies.

Andrew Mitchell, the former Cabinet Minister, suggested MI5 officers might be called upon to interview senior ministers on the NSC to find out who leaked the UK Government decision to allow Chinese telecoms firm Huawei to help build the UK's 5G phone network.

Lord Ricketts, the former National Security Advisor, echoed the call, suggesting investigators from the security services could be brought in "to make the culprit feel very uncomfortable".

Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary and National Security Advisor, is said to have been incensed by the unprecedented leak and is determined to find the leaker.

The NSC is a private forum where senior ministers and security officials can regularly discuss highly sensitive security information.

Lord Gus O’Donnell, the former Head of the Civil Service, branded the breach of confidence a “complete outrage”.

"If I were Cabinet Secretary, and I thoroughly applaud what my successor Mark Sedwill has done, is to say: 'Look, this is just beyond the pale'; this is really important for the country, these issues are massively important."

He added: “I’ve been involved in inquiries where we have looked at mobile phone records, email records and the like. Personally, I would be doing that.”

Baroness Neville-Jones, who used to chair the Joint Intelligence Committee, said the lack of discipline was “appalling” and that the routine leaking from Cabinet was now infecting the NSC.

“People need to take a grip and actually start treating serious subjects seriously,” the former Security Minister declared.

During a visit to Beijing to attend a Chinese Government investment forum, Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, stressed: “It is very important that we get to the bottom of what happened here.”

As well as the Whitehall probe, there has also been a call for a criminal investigation by Scotland Yard.

Sir Michael Fallon, the former Defence Secretary, said he hoped Downing would “wake up” to the need to get the police involved.

"It's extraordinary to think a minister can leak details of the NSC and then think they can get away with it. That's why a police inquiry now is so important," declared the Scot.

MPs across the Commons chamber have made clear that if any minister is found to have been involved in the leak of sensitive information to The Daily Telegraph, then he or she should be sacked immediately.

Any criminal prosecution could be based on a minister having breached the Official Secrets Act.

Theresa May chaired Tuesday’s NSC meeting when she overrode objections from senior ministers to give the green light for the Chinese tech giant Huawei to participate in the UK's 5G communications network.

Among those said to have expressed concerns were Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, and Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary; all who harbour ambitions to succeed Mrs May as Prime Minister.

One Whitehall insider claimed the leak was "evidently briefed to make a leadership candidate look tough on China".

Other ministers who also raised objections to Huawei’s involvement were Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, and Penny Mordaunt, the International Development Secretary.

Mr Hammond is thought to have been one of five other ministers at the NSC to speak in favour of allowing Huawei limited access, which endorsed the recommendations from the spy agency GCHQ.

But once the row broke, minister after minister came forward to condemn the leak and deny any involvement.

Mr Hunt told journalists at a press gallery lunch in Westminster that the NSC leak was “utter appalling”. When asked if he or any of his staff was responsible, the Secretary of State replied emphatically: “No.”

Later, Mr Williamson issued a statement, saying neither he nor any of his team had "divulged information from the National Security Council".

While Mr Javid, visiting a police training college in Kent, said it was "completely unacceptable" for any minister to release sensitive information and that it should "absolutely be looked at".

Downing Street has declined to comment on the leak but Mrs May's spokesman reflected her anger by saying: "The Prime Minister is clear: the protection of information on matters of national security is of the highest importance."