Politics Live
4:00pm – Goodbye
That’s all from us on what has been a pretty sobering week for UK politics. No doubt, we will hear more about Afghanistan next week as the situation continues to evolve day by day. Enjoy your weekend, and we’ll see you next week.
3:30pm – Should Dominic Raab resign?
A recent YouGov poll suggests the public are largely undecided on the issue.
Should Dominic Raab resign as Foreign Secretary?
All Britons
Yes 33% / No 25% /Don't know 42%CON
Yes 16% / No 47% /Don't know 37%LAB
Yes 59% / No 11% / Don't know 31%https://t.co/ubsEuTtloz pic.twitter.com/EQjW9htWsQ— YouGov (@YouGov) August 19, 2021
2:59pm – Scottish Greens on power-sharing deal:
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie hails "historic moment" for the party
He says power-sharing deal with the SNP will "put two Green ministers into the heart of government advocating for the climate and for a fairer, greener Scotland"https://t.co/wxfFtQLfyb pic.twitter.com/Kiq8nE280s
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) August 20, 2021
1:35pm – Friday Quiz: Recall of parliament (2011-2021)
How many can you guess?
12:02pm – Raab speaks out on missed call controversy
Dominic Raab has offered a defence over the story that he missed a call call Afghan officials to get interpreters out of the country.
The foreign secretary says he was “prioritising security and capacity at the airport” and was therefore
unable to take the call with the Afghan foreign minister.
10:45am – Afghanistan: The public’s view
9:45am – New power-sharing deal in Scotland
According to the BBC, the SNP and the Greens in Scotland have come to a new power-sharing at Holyrood.
8:30am – Good morning.
Dominic Raab is a lonely man this morning. The foreign secretary is clinging onto his job following a wave of criticism from all sides of the political spectrum over his “cold” conduct during the Afghanistan crisis in the past week. Revelations and leaks are coming from all over Whitehall today and it remains to be seen whether the Conservative MP will keep his job, with a reshuffle expected in the new year.
Key headlines:
- Raab clings on to foreign secretary job.
- FS reportedly ‘refused to take calls’ when on holiday.
- Reports suggest Taliban reprisals for Afghan western employees.
Newspaper roundup:
- Daily Mail – “Bad call, minister”.
- Daily Mirror – “I will fight on for Stuart: Dying dad’s vow after arrested man released without charge”.
- Financial Times – “Toyota move to slash output 40 percent adds to jitters over global growth”.
- Guardian – “Raab ‘refused to take calls’ during fall of Afghanistan”.
- i – “U.K. public’s verdict on Afghanistan”.
- Times – “Whitehall chiefs holiday despite Afghan debacle”.
- Telegraph – “Biden: U.K. and allies had choice to remain”.
