Iain Duncan Smith: ‘The betrayal of those who served us in Afghanistan is a moral disgrace’
The West’s retreat from Afghanistan is a shameful act. But worse still is the betrayal of those who served us.
‘Got it wrong’: Regretful Ellwood faces no confidence vote over Afghanistan clip
The Conservative chair of the defence select committee is facing a no confidence vote over a tweet which appeared to praise the progress of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East and a former soldier, deleted the tweet on Wednesday night after telling TalkTV: “I got it wrong”. In the widely criticised […]
Foreign Office denies ‘deliberately misleading’ MPs over Afghanistan withdrawal
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has denied being “deliberately misleading” in the wake of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Today, the foreign affairs committee publishes the government’s response to the committee’s report “Missing in action: UK leadership and the withdrawal from Afghanistan”. The FCDO states that “there are fundamental lessons to learn” from the withdrawal, and […]
Heappey denies ‘flippant’ MoD following Afghanistan allegations
In an urgent question, James Heappey gave a statement regarding the recent allegations of malpractice by British special forces when in Afghanistan. Heappey told the House of Commons that “it is absolutely right that personnel are held to account”. However, the defence minister denied the suggestion that the Ministry of Defence had be “flippant” in […]
Calls for government to accelerate British Council contractor evacuation in Afghanistan
Conservative MP John Baron asked an urgent question in which he stressed to foreign minister Vicky Ford that “there remains around 180 British Council contractors in Afghanistan”, 85 of which the UK has classified at “very high risk”. Baron highlighted to Ford the issue that the government’s new application service for these individuals will have […]
Government urged to relaunch diplomacy with Afghanistan
In a damning report from the foreign affairs committee, MPs say the Foreign Office, the National Security Advisor and Ministers must accept responsibility for the failure to prepare or respond, abandoning the UK’s allies and damaging the UK’s interests. Missing in action: UK leadership and the withdrawal from Afghanistan is the result of the committee’s inquiry […]
Religious persecution is ramping up worldwide—we must secure safe routes for refugees
The charity Open Doors heard from an Afghan woman with the given name of Zabi. Her father was taken, tortured and executed. A few months later, her brother was also taken and never seen or heard from again. Zabi and her mother fled to another country after the Taliban takeover and they survive amidst total uncertainty […]
Foreign Office mandarin ‘not aware’ of intervention from Boris Johnson in Kabul animals evacuation
In documents released today by the Foreign Affairs committee today the Permanent Under-Secretary for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Sir Philip Barton has said he was unaware of any personal intervention by the prime minister in the Nowzad evacuation. An email released by the committee yesterday addressed from one FCDO official to a colleague […]
Parliament in 2021: Memorable speeches
2021 saw MPs deliver powerful speeches on the big political stories of the year. Whether it was pandemic, the fall of Afghanistan, or remembering a fallen colleague, the oratory skills displayed by these MPs cemented their speeches into UK political history. Here are the highlights: 7th July – Tan Dhesi tears into Boris Johnson Boris […]
Foreign Office whistleblower details ‘dysfunction’ of Afghanistan evacuation response
Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee publishes written evidence submitted to the Committee by a whistleblower who worked on the Afghanistan Crisis Response within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The evidence will form part of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s inquiry into the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The whistleblower, Raphael Marshall, worked for the FCDO as a Desk Officer. […]
