excellent lobbied on behalf of the excellent work done by the gentlemen. i am aware of his cause and the wonderful things he has done for animals in afghanistan. we will do all we can to help him and others who face particular difficulty, like himself. asi as i say, without in any way jeopardising our national security. these are concerns shared across the international community, to all five permanent members of the un security council, and i will chair a virtual meeting of the g7 in the coming days. third, mr speaker, we also have an enduring commitment to all the afghan people, and now more than ever we must reaffirm that

commitment. our efforts must be focused on supporting the afghan people in the region itself, particularly those fleeing convert of the threat of violence. we therefore call on the united nations to lead a new humanitarian effort in this region, and i give way. i think the prime minister _ this region, and i give way. i think the prime minister for _ this region, and i give way. i think the prime minister for giving - this region, and i give way. i think the prime minister for giving way l the prime ministerfor giving way and i welcome his support and also the government support for resettlement programme. the home secretary announced in 2019 that the uk would continue a resettlement scheme of 5000 refugees a year after the syrian scheme closed. could he confirm that the announcement today of afghan resettlement scheme is in addition to that existing 5000 resettlement commitment, as opposed to simply being a refocusing or a displacement of that existing 5000 a year resettlement programme? i am very grateful. — year resettlement programme? i am very grateful, because i think she's asked a question that formed itself

in many people's minds about the 5000, and, yes, indeed, the 5000 extra in the resettlement scheme are an addition to those already announced. and we will support those people in coming to this country, we will also support the wider international community in delivering on humanitarian projects in the region by doubling, doubling, mr speaker, the amount of humanitarian and development assistance that we had previously committed to afghanistan this year. with new funding, with new funding... wait for it. taking this up funding... wait for it. taking this up to £286 million with immediate effect. and we call on others... we call on others to work together on a shared humanitarian effort focusing on helping the most vulnerable in

what will be formidably difficult circumstances. i give way. i am grateful and he is being very generous with his time. 0ver i am grateful and he is being very generous with his time. over the past 20 years, there have been some 50 nato and partner nations that have been involved in afghanistan. i welcome the measures that have been proposed by the uk and other countries such as the us, canada, france, germany, and so on, however, there are many countries still have been involved in afghanistan in recent years who have still yet to come to the plate and to recognise their responsibility in helping these people at this desperate time. with the prime minister inform the house what is being done to encourage these other countries to take up their responsibility and help these people in afghanistan? he makes an excellent point. that is why the uk has chaired the security council of the un and asked them to

put emotion together with our french friends to get the world to focus on the humanitarian needs of afghanistan, and we will be doing the same thing in nato in the g7 and the same thing in nato in the g7 and the other bodies in which we have a leadership role. and we want all these countries to step up, as he rightly says, and focus on the most vulnerable, in what will be formidably difficult circumstances. fourth... i have given way quite a lot already. and i know, thanks to the generosity of yourself, mr speaker, and the house, there is now ample time for debate until later this afternoon where i think new members will be able to get their points across. i therefore intend to make some progress. fourth, while we must focus on the region itself, we will also create safe and legal routes for those afghans most in need to come and settle here in the uk. so in addition to those afghans

with whom we have worked directly, i can announce today that we are committing to relocating another 5000 afghans this year with a new and bespoke resettlement scheme, focusing on the most vulnerable, particularly women and children. and we will keep this under review for future years, with the potential of accommodating up to 20,000 over the long term. and so, taken together, mr speaker... i've been very generous with my intentions. taken together, mr speaker, we are committing almost half £1 billion of humanitarian funding to support the afghan people. fifth, mr speaker. we must also face the reality of a change of regime in afghanistan. and as president of the g7, the uk will work to unite the international

community behind a clear plan for dealing with this regime in a unified and concerted way. 0ver dealing with this regime in a unified and concerted way. over the last three days i've spoken with the nato and un secretary general, with president biden, chancellor merkel, president biden, chancellor merkel, president macron, and prime minister khan. we are clear and we have agreed that it would be a mistake for any country to recognise any new regime in kabul prematurely or bilaterally. instead, those countries that care about afghanistan's future should work towards common commit additions about the conduct of the new regime before deciding together whether to recognise it and on what terms. we willjudge this regime based on the choices it makes and bites actions, rather than by its words. 0n choices it makes and bites actions, rather than by its words. on its attitude to terrorism, to crime, and narcotics as well as humanitarian

access and the rights of girls to receive an education. defending human rights will remain of the highest priority. and we will use every available political and diplomatic means to ensure that those human rights remain at the top of the international agenda. mr speaker, our united kingdom has a roll call of honour that bears the names of a57 servicemen and women who gave their lives in some of the world's harshest terrain. and many others who bear injuries to this day. fighting in what had become the epicentre of global terrorism. and even amid the heart—wrenching scenes we see today, i believe they should be proud of their achievements, and we should be deeply proud of them. because they conferred benefits that are lasting and ineradicable on millions of people in one of the

poorest countries on earth. and they provided vital protection for two decades to this country and the rest of the world. they gave their all for our safety and we owe it to them to give our all to prevent afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terrorism. because no matter how grim the lessons of the past, the future is not yet written. and at this bleak turning point, we must help the people of afghanistan to choose the best of all their possible futures. and in the un, the g7, in nato, with friends and partners around the world, that is the critical task on which this government is now urgently engaged and will be engaged in the days to come. the

urgently engaged and will be engaged in the days to come.— in the days to come. the question is that this house _ in the days to come. the question is that this house has _ in the days to come. the question is that this house has considered - in the days to come. the question is that this house has considered the l that this house has considered the situation _ that this house has considered the situation in — that this house has considered the situation in afghanistan. can i suggest — situation in afghanistan. can i suggest to backbenchers we will be starting _ suggest to backbenchers we will be starting with seven minutes. now i call on _ starting with seven minutes. now i call on the — starting with seven minutes. now i call on the leader of the opposition, the right honourable keir starmer. thank you, mr speaker. can i keir starmer. — thank you, mr speaker. can i thank you and the staff for recalling parliament voted a's debate. before i get to the urgent issue at hand, let mejoin you, mr speaker, and the prime minister in condemning the appalling shootings in plymouth last week. we all send our condolences to the bereaved families. we must resolve to ensure fire alarms do not get into the hands of dangerous people, and finally to get to grips with the way that hate thrives on the internet. turning to afghanistan, mr speaker, it has been a disastrous week. an unfolding tragedy. 20 years ago, the taliban were largely in control of

afghanistan, al-qaeda were using the country as a training ground and a base for terror, including plotting the horrific 9/11 attack. there were widespread human rights abuses, girls were denied an education, women could not work, being gay was punishable by death, all imposed without democracy. since then, a fragile democracy emerged. mr speaker, it was by no means perfect. but no international terrorist attacks have been mounted from afghanistan in that period. women have gained liberty and one office. schools and clinics have been built and afghans have allowed themselves to dream of a better future. and afghans have allowed themselves to dream of a betterfuture. mr speaker, those achievements were born of sacrifice, sacrifice by the

afghan people who bravely fought alongside their nato allies, and british sacrifice. 0ver alongside their nato allies, and british sacrifice. over 150,000 alongside their nato allies, and british sacrifice. 0ver150,000 uk personnel have served in afghanistan. including members across this house. including the honourable and gallant members for tonbridge and molly, for barnsley central, plymouth moor view, tonbridge and molly, for barnsley central, plymouth moorview, norwich south, aldershot, the isle of wight, felton and bradley stoke, and wells. they are the tens of thousands of others deployed in afghanistan served in difficult and challenging circumstances, and the labour party, and i'm sure everybody across this house, thanks each and every one of them of the 150,000. many returned

with life changing injuries. and, tragically, a57 did not return at all. i willjust make progress and then i will. i will. all. iwilljust make progress and then i will. iwill.— then i will. iwill. later todayi will be then i will. i will. later today i will be telling _ then i will. i will. later today i will be telling the _ then i will. i will. later today i will be telling the service - then i will. iwill. later todayi will be telling the service at i then i will. iwill. later today i i will be telling the service at reo flying to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the last repatriation. will he agree with me that the message to those people i will see today must be not that these young lives were wasted but that they played an essential role in deterring and destroying terrorism and carry on the good works afghanistan? i wholeheartedly a . ree with works afghanistan? i wholeheartedly agree with that. _ works afghanistan? i wholeheartedly agree with that, we _ works afghanistan? i wholeheartedly agree with that, we will— works afghanistan? i wholeheartedly agree with that, we will address - works afghanistan? i wholeheartedly agree with that, we will address it i agree with that, we will address it in one moment. thank you. mr speaker, for many of those who returned from afghanistan and other places around the world, mental health has been an all—too—familiar issue raised by veterans time and again. and the events of the last

few days and weeks will have a gas aggravated the situation, reopening old wounds, and everybody across this house will have had examples of that. so we must improve mental health services for our veterans. mr speaker, in addressing very point that has been made, i want to address directly all those who served in afghanistan and their families, especially the families of those who were lost. your sacrifice was not in vain. your sacrifice was not in vain. you brought stability, reduce the terrorist threat, and enabled progress. we are all proud of what you did. your sacrifice deserves better than this. and so to the afghan people. mr speaker, there's been a major miscalculation of the resilience of

the afghan forces, and staggering complacency from our government about the taliban threat. the result is that the taliban are now back in control of afghanistan, the gains made through 20 years of sacrifice hang precariously, women and girls fairforfidelity, afghan hang precariously, women and girls fair for fidelity, afghan civilians are holding on to the undercarriage of nato aircraft, literally clinging to departing hope. when we face new threats to our security, and an appalling humanitarian crisis. i will. ., ., , will. for all the reasons he mentioned, _ will. for all the reasons he mentioned, doesn't - will. for all the reasons he mentioned, doesn't he - will. for all the reasons he i mentioned, doesn't he agree will. for all the reasons he - mentioned, doesn't he agree that president biden is actually wrong when he talks about american sacrifices in a civil war, the taliban is not at war with the regime, the taliban is at war with the civilised values ofjustice, equality and tolerance that all of us hold dear, and against which it respects no international boundaries.—

respects no international boundaries. ., ., . boundaries. how would agree with that intervention, _ boundaries. how would agree with that intervention, and _ boundaries. how would agree with that intervention, and thank - boundaries. how would agree with that intervention, and thank the l that intervention, and thank the honourable memberfor that intervention, and thank the honourable member for it. that intervention, and thank the honourable memberfor it. mr speaker, i will make some progress. mr speaker, the desperate situation requires leadership, and for the prime minister to snap out of his complacency. the most urgent task is the protection of our diplomatic staff still working heroically in kabul, and the evacuation of british nationals and afghans who have risked their lives. let me be clear, the labour party fully supports the deployment of troops to the sign. we wanted to succeed just as quickly and safely as possible. the defence secretary has said that some people who work with us will not get back. unconscionable. the government must outline a plan to work with our allies to do everything possible to ensure that does not happen.

guaranteed our troops have the resources they need to carry out their mission effectively and as safely as possible and work to provide stable security at the airport in kabul, so flights can depart and visas can be processed. we all know how hard everybody is working on the ground and we fully support it. i raise an issue not by way of criticism butjust to get some reassurance because there are reports this morning from ngos that an evacuation plane left almost empty this morning because evacuees couldn't get to the airport to get to that plane. as i say, we are not challenging the work on the ground, we know how difficult it is, but it's appropriate moment i would like to the addressed. if true. i it's appropriate moment i would like to the addressed. if true.— to the addressed. if true. i will, es. i'm to the addressed. if true. i will, yes. i'm grateful— to the addressed. if true. i will, yes. i'm grateful to _ to the addressed. if true. i will, yes. i'm grateful to the - to the addressed. if true. i will, yes. i'm grateful to the right. yes. i'm grateful to the right honourable gentleman for giving way. can i bring him back to the

statement from the president of the united states the other day. does he not agree with me that this took on the terms really have a shameful excuse. when he blames the afghan armed forces who have lost nearly 70,000 in trying to defend afghan when corruption had stripped away much of their pay, money and support in the american decision to withdraw the aircraft cover was almost certainly going to leave us, does he not think that was shameful? mr not think that was shameful? ii speaker, the us not think that was shameful? i speaker, the us is of course an important ally, but to overlook the fighting of the afghan troops and forces in recent years, they have been at the forefront of that fighting, i think is wrong for any of us to overlook the situation they now find themselves in. mr speaker, the urgent task is of course the evacuation. equally urgent is the immediate refugee crisis. many afghans have bravely sought to

rebuild their country. they did so on a promise of democratic freedoms, the rule of law and liberty for the oppressed, including women and girls. they are friends. and that was of a promise. they are now fearing for their lives. we do not turn our backs on friends at the time of need. we owe an obligation to the people of afghanistan. there should be a resettlement scheme for people to rebuild their lives here, safe and legal roots. it must be a resettlement scheme that meets the scale of the enormous challenge, but what the government has announced this morning does not do that. it is vague, it will supportjust 5000 in the first year, a number without rationale. was that based on a risk assessment of those most in need, or was it plucked out of the air? the

offer to other in one moment. the offer to others is in the long term, the long term. for those desperately needing our help now, there is no long term, mr speaker. just day—to—day survival. i shall give way. i'm grateful to him for giving way, as well as the need for giving way, as well as the need for a more bold and ambitious resettlement programme, does he agree that this disaster must mark a turning point for our failed asylum system? getting rid of so hostile environment. a woman fleeing the taliban with her child on a boat across the channel would be criminalised. does he agree that it should be reversed? i iffiiiii criminalised. does he agree that it should be reversed?— criminalised. does he agree that it

should be reversed? i will come on ofthe should be reversed? i will come on of the system- _ should be reversed? i will come on of the system. yet _ should be reversed? i will come on of the system. yet again, - should be reversed? i will come on of the system. yet again, this - of the system. yet again, this government seems ill—prepared and unwilling, just as it has been too slow to provide sanctuary to afghans who served alongside britain. too many reports of bureaucratic hurdles. knowing the date of withdrawal was coming for months, the home office is not close to completing the process they have already got up and running. it was designed to help 7000 people, yet home office figures this week showed only 2000 have been helped so far. i shall give way. i thank my honourable friend for giving way on the point i wanted to make to the prime minister was the situation facing afghan sikhs. i know there are afghan sikhs waiting for clearance from the home office. i would like to call on the government to process those as quick as possible and not leave all those people in the system waiting any

longer than they have to at the moment. they are terrified of the idea of being sent back home, despite the reassurance given to my honourable friend, i don't see any movement from the home office to give these people the legal status that they need. i’m give these people the legal status that they need.— give these people the legal status that they need. i'm grateful for the intervention _ that they need. i'm grateful for the intervention and _ that they need. i'm grateful for the intervention and there _ that they need. i'm grateful for the intervention and there have - that they need. i'm grateful for the intervention and there have been i intervention and there have been other examples across the house of individuals and groups who are very obviously at risk in afghanistan i need to come out as quickly as possible. and that is where the question arises as to what is behind the 5000 number and why the others are having to wait so long? the scale of the refugee crisis requires an international response, but we must lead it and lead with a resettlement programme that meets the skill of the challenge. the scheme must be generous and welcoming. if it's not, we know the consequences. we know the consequences. we know the consequences now. violent reprisals in afghanistan, people tragically

fleeing into the arms of human traffickers. we know this is what will happen. more people risking and losing their lives on unsafe journeys, including across the english channel. we cannot betray our friends. english channel. we cannot betray our friends— our friends. thank you for giving wa . he our friends. thank you for giving way- he speaks _ our friends. thank you for giving way. he speaks of _ our friends. thank you for giving way. he speaks of people - way. he speaks of people fleeing, but what we have yet to assess is whether anyone outside of kabul is able to get to somewhere of safety. does he agree that no safe corridor needs to be opened to an international border so that those who are not your kabul can also get to safety via a third country. i’m to safety via a third country. i'm irateful to safety via a third country. i'm grateful for _ to safety via a third country. i'm grateful for that _ to safety via a third country. in grateful for that intervention. and there is huge concern, as all members will know, about our line of sight beyond kabuljust at the moment. again, that calls into question for the 5000 number comes from because we're not even in a position to assess at the moment the

position to assess at the moment the position outside of kabul. we cannot betray our friends. we position outside of kabul. we cannot betray ourfriends. we must lead. the government of this kingdom to be overthrown by a wicked and brutal regime. i venture he would want a leading role in the resistance. he wouldn't be queueing at the airport, wouldn't be queueing at the airport, would he? ., v ., wouldn't be queueing at the airport, would he? . �*, . , wouldn't be queueing at the airport, would he?_ when l wouldn't be queueing at the airport, would he?_ when i would he? that's a disgrace. when i was director — would he? that's a disgrace. when i was director of _ would he? that's a disgrace. when i was director of public _ would he? that's a disgrace. when i was director of public prosecutions, | was director of public prosecutions, i had some of my prosecutors in afghanistan at huge risk, working on counter—terrorism with other brave souls there, so i won't take that from him or anybody else. mr speaker, once these immediate challenges are addressed, we face an uncertain and difficult future. the taliban are back in control and we cannot be naive about the

consequences. we've lost our primary source of leveraged in political discussions and everything we've achieved in the last 20 years is now under threat. achieved in the last 20 years is now underthreat. i achieved in the last 20 years is now under threat. i shall make some progress. mr speaker, the prime minister is right to say we cannot allow afghanistan to become a training ground for violence, hate and terrorism. but that will be more difficult now that afghanistan has descended into chaos. but if preventing al-qaeda camps is now the limit of ourambition, preventing al-qaeda camps is now the limit of our ambition, we are betraying 20 years of sacrifice by our armed forces and we are betraying the afghan people who cannot be left the cruelty of the taliban. i cannot be left the cruelty of the taliban. �* ., ., taliban. iwill. i'm gratefulto him for trivin taliban. iwill. i'm gratefulto him for giving wav- — taliban. iwill. i'm gratefulto him for giving way. he _ taliban. iwill. i'm gratefulto him for giving way. he speaks - taliban. iwill. i'm gratefulto him for giving way. he speaks about i taliban. i will. i'm gratefulto him i for giving way. he speaks about the lack of ambition and the lack of urgency which of course summarises everything about this government's approach to this crisis and many others. isn't it telling about the

whole approach of this government that when we had an afghan government we wanted to support, they should cut the amount of overseas aid to be sent and either banner in charge they are talking about increasing the amount of overseas aid. it is an important point. i overseas aid. it is an important oint. , ., ., ~' overseas aid. it is an important oint. ,, point. i shall make some progress and then make _ point. i shall make some progress and then make way. _ point. i shall make some progress and then make way. the - point. i shall make some progress i and then make way. the government point. i shall make some progress - and then make way. the government is right not to recognise the taliban as the official government. the prime minister has made that clear. this must be part of a wider strategy developed with un security partners, nato allies to apply pressure to the taliban, not only to stamp out a resurgence of terror groups to retain the liberties and human rights of afghanistan. we must

work with afghan neighbours to ensure there is consistent pressure. we must ensure the aid budget is used for humanitarian causes. this is a difficult task with no guarantee of success. so it should concern us all that the prime minister'sjudgment on minister's judgment on afghanistan has been appalling. mr speaker, nobody believes that britain and our allies could have remained in afghanistan indefinitely. 0r allies could have remained in afghanistan indefinitely. or that britain could have fought alone. nato leaders were put in a difficult position after president trump agreed with the taliban that forces should withdraw in may 2021. but

that was made 18 months ago. we have had 18 months to prepare and plan for the consequences of what followed. to plan and to prepare for the resettlement of refugees and those who have supported us, for supporting the afghan government and managing withdrawal, for securing international and regional pressure on the taliban and support for the afghan government. the very problems we are confronting today were all known problems of the last 18 months and there's been a failure of preparation. mr speaker, the lack of planning is unforgivable and the prime minister bears a heavy responsibility. he mutters today. he was in a position to lead but he didn't. britain holds a seat at the united nations security council. we

are a key player within nato. chair of the g7. every one of these platforms could and should have been used to prepare for the withdrawal of forces. to rally international support behind a plan to stabilise afghanistan through the process and keep us safe. i will give way in a minute. mr speaker, mr speaker, did the prime minister use those platforms in those 18 months to prepare? no he didn't. what did he do instead? we debated this. he cut the development budget. he cut the development budget that was key to the strength and resilience of democracy in afghanistan. he's made a great deal today of the money he is putting in. £292 million was spent in 2019. in 2021, 150

is putting in. £292 million was spent in 2019. in 2021,150 5 million. short—sighted, small—minded and a threat to security. he failed to visit afghanistan as prime minister. meaning that his last trip as foreign secretary in 2018 was not to learn or to push british interest, but to avoid a vote on heathrow. hundreds of thousands of british people have fallen to serve, the prime minister flew to avoid public service. in march this year, the prime minister published a review of foreign policy. a huge review. it

was to demonstrate that we can be counted on when it matters. in the integrated review, there werejust two passing references to afghanistan. two passing references. the review didn't even mention the taliban. it didn't even mention the taliban. it didn't even mention the taliban. it didn't mention nato withdrawal or the consequences of the doha agreement. it did cut the size of the army and we criticised it at the time. the size of the army and we criticised it at the time.— size of the army and we criticised it at the time. the question is why was the prime _ it at the time. the question is why was the prime minister _ it at the time. the question is why was the prime minister so - it at the time. the question is why i was the prime minister so careless? why did he feel to lead? mr speaker, it comes down to complacency and

poorjudgment. it comes down to complacency and poorjudgment— poorjudgment. there was a calculation. _ poorjudgment. there was a calculation. i _ poorjudgment. there was a calculation. i was, - poorjudgment. there was a calculation. iwas, any- poorjudgment. there was a - calculation. iwas, any moment. calculation. i was, any moment. there was a calculation that withdrawal would lead and accelerate political discussions. seeing this injuly, members on both sides of this house want any government that they may be underestimating the threat of a talent than on both sides of the house at that point was made. that was ignored. the government's preparation for withdrawal was based on a miscalculation of the resilience of the afghan forces and a staggering complacency about the taliban threat. the prime minister is as guilty as anyone. this sunday, he said of this, and i quote, we have known it for a long time that this was the way things were going. that is what he said on sunday. that is not what he told of this house in

july. may buy minister stood there and assured members that there is a no military path to victory for the teledyne —— injuly in the prime minister stood there. he went on to say that he did not believe the taliban were capable of victory by military means. the government and the payments are wrong and complacent and when he was not a rewriting history comedy prime minister was displaying at the same appalling judgment last week. the teledyne arriving at the gates of kabul —— teledyne. we thank him and his staff. the prime minister's response to the taliban arriving at the gates of kabul was to go on

holiday. no sense of the gravity of the situation not a leadership to drive international efforts on the evacuation. a foreign secretary shakes his head. mr speaker, what would i do definitely? i wouldn't stay on holiday whilst kabul was falling. and that there are numerous examples of those leaders on both sides of the house have come back immediately in a time of crisis. the foreign secretary... he is shouting now. ., now. order, order. the prime minister was _ now. order, order. the prime minister was hard _ now. order, order. the prime minister was hard and - now. order, order. the prime minister was hard and i want l now. order, order. the prime. minister was hard and i want to hear the leader_ minister was hard and i want to hear the leader of the opposition. you may disagree but you may wish to catch _ may disagree but you may wish to catch my — may disagree but you may wish to catch my eye. do not ruin that chance — catch my eye. do not ruin that chance. . . catch my eye. do not ruin that chance. ,, . .,

chance. keir starmer. the foreign secretary shouts _ chance. keir starmer. the foreign secretary shouts now _ chance. keir starmer. the foreign secretary shouts now but - chance. keir starmer. the foreign secretary shouts now but he - chance. keir starmer. the foreign. secretary shouts now but he stayed on holiday while our mission in afghanistan was disintegrating. mr speaker, he did not even speak to ambassadors in the region as a kabul fail a tree taliban. let that sink in. —— fell to the taliban. let that sink in. you cannot coordinate an international response from the beach. a dereliction of duty by the prime minister and the foreign secretary, a government totally unprepared for the scenario that it had 18 months to prepare for. mr speaker, it is one thing for people to lose trust in the buy minister at home, but when the trust in the word of our prime minister is questioned abroad, there are serious questions for our safety at home. recent events in afghanistan shamed that

west, notjust the scenes of chaos, but to what it says about our abandonment of the afghan people. for those brave people around the world living under a regime scant regard to human rights, but resisting those regimes in pursuit of democracy, equality and individualfreedom. what of democracy, equality and individual freedom. what does this say to them? what does this retreat from freedom a signal to those prepared to stand up for it? what does this surrender to extremism meaning to those prepared to face it down? and what does it mean for those nations who support and international rules —based system when we hand over power to those who recognise no rules at all. that is the challenge of our time. mr speaker, the british and afghan people will have to live with the consequences of the prime minister's failure. we have fought for 20 years to rid afghanistan of terror and

bring liberty and afghanistan. the taliban are back in control under the prime minister has no plan to handle the situation, just as he had no plan to prevent it. what we have one through 20 years of sacrifice could all be lost. that is because, mr speaker, of careless leadership. thank you. —— because of careless leadership. thank you. -- because of careless leadership-— thank you. -- because of careless leadershi. ., ~ ~ ., ,, leadership. thank you, mr speaker. i had the opportunity _ leadership. thank you, mr speaker. i had the opportunity to _ leadership. thank you, mr speaker. i had the opportunity to visit _ had the opportunity to visit afghanistan twice. but i recognise that and others across this house has experiences are more recent, more vivid, more practical, longer and broader than mine. when i was there, i was struck by the commitment and dedication of our armed forces are serving there. and of other british personnel. all were doing what they could to give hope to the people of afghanistan. people

who thanks to our presence, were able to enjoy freedoms they had been denied under the taliban. 20 years on, a57 a british military personnel have died in afghanistan and many more have suffered life changing injuries. yes, many girls have been educated because a british aid, but it is notjust that educated because a british aid, but it is not just that the freedoms are once enjoyed will now be taken away, but there are many, many afghans, not just those who worked for british forces, who are now in fear of their lives. it is right that we should open up a refugee scheme, but we must make it absolutely certain that it we must make it absolutely certain thatitis we must make it absolutely certain that it is accessible to all of those who need it. of course, they nato presence was always going to end at some point in time, but if he withdrawal when it came was due to be orderly, planned, and on any basis of conditions. it has been none of these. what has been most

shocking has been any chaos and the speed of the takeover by the taliban. injuly this year, both president biden and my right honourable friend, the prime minister, indicated they did not think the taliban was a ready or able to take over control of the country. was our intelligence really so poor? was our understanding of the afghan government so week? was our knowledge of the position on any ground is so inadequate? 0r our knowledge of the position on any ground is so inadequate? or did we really believe this? or did we just feel we had to follow the united states had hoped that only wing and a prayer, it would be all right on the night? because of the reality is... if i canjust make this point. the reality is that as this, a time limit was given and dates for withdrawal given, all the taliban had to do was to ensure there were so patient problems for the afghan government not to be able to have

full control of the country —— there were sufficient problems. and then just sit and wait. would my right honourable friend agree that president biden decided unilaterally to withdraw without agreeing in negotiating a plan. with either the afghan government or the nato allies and the response of the uk government in the circumstances has been fast, purposeful and extremely well guided to protecting the interests of uk citizens? can well guided to protecting the interests of uk citizens? can i “ust ate m interests of uk citizens? can i “ust are my right fl interests of uk citizens? can i “ust ate my right honourable �* interests of uk citizens? can i just ate my right honourable friend, i interests of uk citizens? can i just i ate my right honourable friend, what ate my right honourable friend, what a president biden has done is upheld a president biden has done is upheld a decision that was made by president trump. it was a unilateral decision of president trump to do a deal with the taliban that has led to this withdrawal. of course, what we have seen from the scenes in afghanistan is it has not been all right on the night. as i say, there are many in afghanistan who fear not just that their lives will be irrevocably changed for the worse, but who fear for their lives.

numbered among them will be women, women who embrace the freedom, embrace the right to education, to work and participate in the honourable friend the prime minister was a right to make the education of girls a key aim of administration. but if afghanistan —— the afghanistan will be swept away and those girls who have had that education will have an opportunity to use it. the taliban claims that women will be able to work on girls able to go to school but this will be under islamic law, or rather, under their interpretation of islamic law. and we have seen before what that means for the lives of women and girls. i give away. i some of the women have shown most carriage are the 250 women who serve asjudges under the carriage are the 250 women who serve as judges under the attempt that was made to pose a decent, honest legal system in afghanistan. they are particularly feared as being

targets. the council on law society have asked the government to take particular cognizance of the risk that we run. will she support the call for them to be given particular priority in being brought to safety? because they put their lives on the line for their fellow women and their whole country. he line for their fellow women and their whole country.— line for their fellow women and their whole country. he makes an im ortant their whole country. he makes an important point. _ their whole country. he makes an important point. there _ their whole country. he makes an important point. there are - their whole country. he makes an important point. there are many. important point. there are many groups in afghanistan who have actually put their lives on the line to support the afghan government, to support democracy, to support justice and it is right we should do everything we can to support them in their time of need. but as we know, and i willjust make a further point about women and girls, under the taliban regime, sadly the life of women and girls will not be the same. they will not have the rights we believe that they should have and they will not have the freedoms that they should have. i will give way to the honourable lady.— the honourable lady. there are already reports _ the honourable lady. there are already reports from _ the honourable lady. there are already reports from sources i the honourable lady. there are| already reports from sources in kabul that the taliban is executing

collaborators and homosexuals. does she agree with me that complacency is absolutely misplaced and what does she suggest a show that we do to protect those people who need to get out? the to protect those people who need to vet out? . ., to protect those people who need to vet out? , ., , get out? the government is doing much to protect — get out? the government is doing much to protect people _ get out? the government is doing much to protect people in trying i get out? the government is doing | much to protect people in trying to ensure it is possible for people to be able to access ways of leaving out of afghanistan. a point was made earlier about the issue of notjust expecting people to get to campbell and i hope this is something that the government will be able to look into and be able take up. furthermore, park and the impact on people's lives of women and girls, we see a humanitarian crisis, and at least in some parts of afghanistan. we cut our international aid budget, of course, but i am pleased the foreign secretary has told me more funding will be made available to deal with this crisis. but it is not just about the impact of the people of afghanistan that must concern us.

we must be deeply concerned about the possible impact lead in the uk. the aim of our involvement in afghanistan was to ensure that it could not be used as a haven for terrorists. terrorists who could train, plot and encourage attacks here in the uk. if ijust me... al-qaeda has not gone away. they # may have lost their ground in syria, but these terrorist groups remain daesh remain. we will not defeat them until we defeat the ideology which defeats the extremism.— ideology which defeats the extremism. ., ., . extremism. one of the most concerning — extremism. one of the most concerning thing _ extremism. one of the most concerning thing is _ extremism. one of the most concerning thing is that - extremism. one of the most concerning thing is that is i concerning thing is that is happening is several thousand al-qaeda operatives have been freed from baghdad prison, kabul prison, kandahar and is she concerned people will go back to their old ways are do they think they were go into

retirement? . do they think they were go into retirement?— do they think they were go into retirement? . , ., . retirement? . he has anticipated the oint i was retirement? . he has anticipated the point i was about _ retirement? . he has anticipated the point i was about to _ retirement? . he has anticipated the point i was about to make _ retirement? . he has anticipated the point i was about to make which - retirement? . he has anticipated the point i was about to make which is i point i was about to make which is the taliban, of course, have said they will not allow afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists again. yesterday they said they would not allow anything to happen in afghanistan which led to attacks elsewhere across the world. but their actions, those must be what we look at, not their words and their action, as memorable friend hasjust pointed out, been to release thousands of high value taliban, al-qaeda and daesh fighters. so that action is completely different from their words. and i think it is absolutely essential for us to recognise that the probability that afghanistan will once again become a breeding ground for the terrorists who seek to destroy our way of life. i will. ., ~ who seek to destroy our way of life. i will. . ~ i. ., i will. thank you for giving way. she made _ i will. thank you for giving way. she made exactly _ i will. thank you for giving way. she made exactly the _ i will. thank you for giving way. she made exactly the point - i will. thank you for giving way. she made exactly the point i i i will. thank you for giving way. - she made exactly the point i hoped to hear from the she made exactly the point i hoped to hearfrom the prime minister and

didn't. the reason is that we went into afghanistan in 2002 remain valid today. if any actions that have been taken in recent weeks render a military solution to that problem and possible, then we have to have a non—military solution. what does she see that non—military solution as being? i what does she see that non-military solution as being?— solution as being? i would say to the rirht solution as being? i would say to the right honourable _ solution as being? i would say to the right honourable gentleman, j solution as being? i would say to. the right honourable gentleman, i solution as being? i would say to - the right honourable gentleman, i am going to make a reference later on to this issue. i think it is, he is absolutely right that the question of a military solution has not been there for some time actually because our combat mission ended some years ago. but what we have been doing is trying to provide the support to enable a democratic government to actually take proper control of that country. i would be happy to talk to the right honourable gentleman some about my views and actually i think the idea of imposing, trying to impose justly western example of democracy any country which is geographically difficult and relies a lot on a regional government is

possibly irate we should have reconsidered when we were going that route. but i was not go down that road any longer. despite his temptations. there was another... i'm concerned about the time for a backbencher suggested it was a seven minutes _ backbencher suggested it was a seven minutes it _ backbencher suggested it was a seven minutes. it is now heading to ten. i will have _ minutes. it is now heading to ten. i will have to — minutes. it is now heading to ten. i will have to put a time—limit after this _ will have to put a time-limit after this. �* , ., ., this. i'm very grateful for your generosity _ this. i'm very grateful for your generosity less. _ this. i'm very grateful for your generosity less. there - this. i'm very grateful for your generosity less. there was i generosity less. there was another important element of our work into afghanistan, stopping drugs from coming into the united kingdom. sadly, that has not had enough successful as we had to have liked to have been. but we did support a criminaljustice system in afghanistan. i assume that will now come to a complete end. once again, this is another area where winstrol is notjust about this is another area where winstrol is not just about afghanistan, this is another area where winstrol is notjust about afghanistan, it has an impact on the streets of the uk -- has an impact on the streets of the uk —— withdrawal is notjust about afghanistan. another key concern is the message it sends around the world to those who would do the wet

harm. the message it sends about our capabilities and most important, about our willingness to defend our values. what does it say if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision taken by the united states? we all understand the importance of american support but despite the comments from my right honourable friend earlier i do find it incomprehensible and worrying that the uk was not able to bring together not a military solution but an alternative alliance of countries to continue to provide the support necessary to sustain a government in afghanistan. surely, one outcome of this must be a reassessment of how nato operates. nato is the bedrock of european security but russia will not be blind to the implications of this decision and the manner in which it has been taken and neither will china or others had failed to notice the implications because in

recent years the west has appeared to be less willing to defend its values. this cannot continue, because if it does it will embolden those who do not share those values and wish to impose their way of life on others. i'm afraid i think this has been a major setback for british foreign policy. we boast about global britain but where is global britain on the streets of kabul? a successful foreign policy strategy will be judged successful foreign policy strategy will bejudged by successful foreign policy strategy will be judged by our deeds, successful foreign policy strategy will bejudged by our deeds, not by our words, and will bejudged by our deeds, not by ourwords, and i will bejudged by our deeds, not by our words, and i will finallyjust say this. all of our military personnel, all who served in afghanistan, should hold their heads high and be proud of what they achieved in that country over 20 years, of the change of life they brought to the people of afghanistan and the safety they brought here to the uk. the politicians sent them there, the politicians decided to withdraw, the politicians must be responsible for the consequences.

leader of the snp, ian blackford. thank— leader of the snp, ian blackford. thank you. — leader of the snp, ian blackford. thank you, mr speaker, and i begin by thanking you for beginning the recall of parliament. it is a pleasure to follow the right honourable memberfor pleasure to follow the right honourable member for maidenhead and i hope the government will reflect very carefully on her words this morning, and particularly her remarks at the end of her contribution about the role of nato in the light of the american decision to pull out of afghanistan, because these are very real issues about the capabilities we have with nato, and if i may say so notjust the capability of nato but how we make sure the united nations has all the tools at its disposal in order to do what we expect of it as well, and these are matters we are going to have to return to in this house when we come back from recess. mr speaker, i would like to thank the government for the briefings we have had over the course of the last few days and in particular i want to

commend the defence secretary for making himself available and the way he has conducted himself, and indeed thatis he has conducted himself, and indeed that is also true of ministers in the home office and i'm thinking particularly of the member for torbay and in the foreign office the memberfor braintree, because it is important when we are talking about human lives being lost that when it is possible that in this house that we work together but, yes, of course, that we ask legitimate questions. mr speaker, there can be little doubt that the chaos and the crisis being inflicted upon the afghan people is the biggest foreign policy failure of modern times. the sheer scale of that political failure is only matched by the humanitarian emergency that it has now unleashed. as we gather here this morning, the future and the

fate of afghanistan has never been more uncertain. afghanistan, a country that has been through so much, is once again facing a period of darkness. 0ver much, is once again facing a period of darkness. over the course of the last week, we have watched these tragic images from afar. mr speaker, the scenes of afghans are seeking to jump the scenes of afghans are seeking to jump onto moving planes to escape will haunt us for the rest of their lives. we have watched from afar but i think we all have a deep sense of sorrow ofjust how closely the uk has been involved in what has unfolded. geographical distance doesn't for a second diminish the moral responsibility we need to feel for the west's role in this crisis. washing our hands of this crisis won't make it go away, and it

definitely won't wash away our responsibility to the afghan people. we all know that acting now will be too little and too late, but better little and light than nothing at all. so today, mr speaker, we have a choice —— better in little and liked the nothing at all. we can either offer meaningless words of sympathy and stand idly by or we can start to do the right thing. we can take responsibility and act. the home secretary has today talked about evacuating more contacts of the uk afghanistan operation from the existing resettlement scheme. let me be clear. there should be no ifs or buts. everyone who has worked with uk forces and by definition has a vulnerability has to be moved to a position of safety. no one, no one,

can be left behind. that is our moral and ethical responsibility. all those who worked with us are our responsibility. we do not, we cannot, walk away from them, and i'm asking the government today to make that commitment. mr speaker, their action needs to begin with a coordinated domestic and international effort to offer safe passage, shelter and support to refugees fleeing this crisis, that is obvious, and that action can't wait. if we are to act we need to act with the same speed as the situation in afghanistan has developed. i'm sad to say that the scheme announced last night by the uk government and today by the prime minister doesn't go near far enough orfast enough. it minister doesn't go near far enough or fast enough. it can only be right that the number of refugees we

welcome here reflects the share of the responsibility of the uk government has for this foreign policy disaster, and this scheme falls way short of that responsibility. the scheme needs to be far more ambitious, generous and swift to help the afghan citizens that it has abandoned and left at serious risk of persecution and indeed of death. the scale of the efforts need to match the scale of the humanitarian emergency. mr speaker... i will give way. and the humanitarian emergency. mr speaker... iwill give way. and i the humanitarian emergency. mr speaker... i will give way. and i am very grateful to him. considering that the government promised in 2016 to save 3000 unaccompanied refugee children from calais is he not concerned that the numbers that have actually been said stand at around 380, and if those promises can be broken, and amongst the many from

afghanistan are children, is he not concerned that those promises today will be as un—robust as the ones of the past? i will be as un-robust as the ones of the ast? ., . , the past? i do agree with my right honourable _ the past? i do agree with my right honourable friend _ the past? i do agree with my right honourable friend and _ the past? i do agree with my right honourable friend and it _ honourable friend and it is important this house has the opportunity to reflect on this and consider what mechanisms we do need to put in place in order to protect people in afghanistan. mr speaker, the harsh reality is 3 million people have already been displaced. 80% of those fleeing their homes are women and children. these are people that are now crying out for our help. i that are now crying out for our hel. ., ~ that are now crying out for our hel. . «i ., ., ., , help. i thank the right honourable rentleman help. i thank the right honourable gentleman for— help. i thank the right honourable gentleman for that. _ help. i thank the right honourable gentleman for that. he _ help. i thank the right honourable gentleman for that. he will - help. i thank the right honourable gentleman for that. he will be - help. i thank the right honourable i gentleman for that. he will be aware yesterday— gentleman for that. he will be aware yesterday that the noble laureate said i_ yesterday that the noble laureate said i know what happens when the world _ said i know what happens when the world loses sight of women and girls in crisis. _ world loses sight of women and girls in crisis, when it looks way what is wedged _ in crisis, when it looks way what is wedged on — in crisis, when it looks way what is wedged on women's bodies. she is sadly— wedged on women's bodies. she is sadly correct. doesn't he agree that if we do _ sadly correct. doesn't he agree that if we do not — sadly correct. doesn't he agree that if we do not act now and go so much further— if we do not act now and go so much further than — if we do not act now and go so much further than the government are proposing — further than the government are proposing to protect women and girls

that this _ proposing to protect women and girls that this political disaster will become — that this political disaster will become a catastrophic moral failure? i become a catastrophic moral failure? i agree _ become a catastrophic moral failure? i agree with my honourable friend. i just reflected on the fact that 3 million people have already been generosity of spirit that recognises the scale of the challenge we face, and that women don't face the loss of their human rights, that they don't face persecution, and, yes, that women don't face even worse, including up to death. mr speaker, it is important to say that if we are to support the afghan people then this crisis needs to mark a point of fundamental change in this government's approach to refugees. in the past few months alone this is a government which has introduced a hateful anti—refugee bill that would rip up, mr speaker, international conventions. it would criminalise those coming from afghanistan that

are in need of our refuge. it is the uk government that has spent a sizeable part of its summer making political play from turning away migrants and refugees in small boats, desperately making their way across the channel. i will give way. i thank the honourable gentleman for giving way. given that only glasgow has been the only city and on authority in scotland to be part of the resettlement scheme up until now, will the snp actually stick to their rhetoric and start calling for other authority areas to be part of the government scheme? mr; other authority areas to be part of the government scheme? my goodness, my goodness. — the government scheme? my goodness, my goodness. my _ the government scheme? my goodness, my goodness, my goodness. _ the government scheme? my goodness, my goodness, my goodness. i _ the government scheme? my goodness, my goodness, my goodness. i don't - my goodness, my goodness. i don't think the honourable gentleman's has actually been listening to anything we have been saying over the course of the past few days, because... i will come on and i will talk about this in more detail. i have been

asking about the syrian resettlement scheme and to work on the basis of the syrian scheme that we had back in the last decade, and i will tell you, mr speaker, the scottish government stands ready to work with the uk government... you know, mr speaker, we are talking about people that are facing extreme risk and that's what we get from the government benches, and they should really be careful that people in the uk are listening to this, and perhaps people in afghanistan. and perhaps, perhaps, mr speaker, a bit of dignity from the opposition benches wouldn't go remiss. let me tell the government benches that i want to make sure that every local authority in scotland has the opportunity to take refugees from afghanistan. and that is precisely

the position of the government of scotland, that it has to come —— but it has to come with the government in london and the devolved administrations working together. there has to be a summit of the four nations to discuss exactly how this... i nations to discuss exactly how this... ., ., nations to discuss exactly how this... . «i ., ._ this... i thank him for giving way. to correct — this... i thank him for giving way. to correct their _ this... i thank him for giving way. to correct their river _ this... i thank him for giving way. to correct their river to deliver i to correct their river to deliver record, my counsel has seven refugees. argyll and bute... —— to correct the record. so that is utter nonsense. correct the record! mr; nonsense. correct the record! my honourable friend is great and i also know in my own area we have refugees from syria as well and indeed they were most welcome by the community. these are people, and let's reflect on this when we have the hostile environment we are seeing once again from the party opposite, these are people who have come here to receive sanctuary, who have gone on to make a contribution

to our public life. they were welcomed. refugees are welcome and afghans are certainly welcome in every part of scotland. 0ne afghans are certainly welcome in every part of scotland. one last time i will give way. i every part of scotland. one last time i will give way.— time i will give way. i am very irateful time i will give way. i am very grateful to — time i will give way. i am very gratefulto him. _ he is making a very powerful point about those who come across the channel in boats. does he recognise that according to refugee organisations like safe passage, 70% of unaccompanied minors crossing in the channel are coming from afghanistan and to criminalise them is a criminal act in itself? yes. afghanistan and to criminalise them is a criminal act in itself?— is a criminal act in itself? yes, i aree is a criminal act in itself? yes, i agree with _ is a criminal act in itself? yes, i agree with my _ is a criminal act in itself? yes, i agree with my right _ is a criminal act in itself? yes, i agree with my right honourable j agree with my right honourable friend and a government has really got to reflect very carefully on this over the course of the summer and change their ways before we come back and debate these matters again. i am going to make some progress and i am going to make some progress and i will give way later on. i think we

havejust demonstrated i will give way later on. i think we have just demonstrated that the hostile attitude and approach to refugees well and truly exists and extends to those from afghanistan. since the most recent conflict began in 2001, the home office has rejected asylum for 32,000 afghans, including rejecting asylum for 875 girls. mr speaker, the total number of afghans totally in the system stands around 3117. so if we are to have any confidence that this is a turning point that this uk government needs to radically rethink how it will respond to the refugee crisis which is unfolding before our eyes. i refugee crisis which is unfolding before our eyes.— refugee crisis which is unfolding before our eyes. i thank the right honourable _ before our eyes. i thank the right honourable gentleman. - before our eyes. i thank the right honourable gentleman. no - before our eyes. i thank the right honourable gentleman. no one l before our eyes. i thank the right| honourable gentleman. no one in before our eyes. i thank the right - honourable gentleman. no one in this house can be felt to be moved by the scenes we are seeing on our

televisions. i am delighted to hear that the scottish government is standing ready to do its part. could the right honourable gentleman confirm how many refugees the scottish government are ready to resettle, please? i scottish government are ready to resettle, please?— scottish government are ready to resettle, please? i am going to come on and discuss _ resettle, please? i am going to come on and discuss this _ resettle, please? i am going to come on and discuss this a _ resettle, please? i am going to come on and discuss this a little _ resettle, please? i am going to come on and discuss this a little bit - on and discuss this a little bit later on. look, i have to say to the government benches, these are the most serious of issues and i welcome the intervention from the honourable member, but i am going to give you the example of what happened with syria because it is a real life example, that scotland took 15% of the refugees. 20%. 20%, so we have done our bit and we are ready to do our bit. i commit myself as the leader of the snp here and i commit my government to work with the government here in london, but they have to extend that hand of friendship to us and to meet with us. ., , .

friendship to us and to meet with us. ., . ,,, ., «i friendship to us and to meet with us. ., i ,,, ., «i us. one last time. mr speaker, i thank the _ us. one last time. mr speaker, i thank the right _ us. one last time. mr speaker, i thank the right honourable - us. one last time. mr speaker, i- thank the right honourable gentleman for giving way. let us hope the issue of refugees does not become a political football in this place. all of us care desperately about giving these people safe haven. we welcome them in the highlands and we welcome them in the highlands and we welcome them in the highlands and we welcome them everywhere, but with the right honourable gentleman agree with me that the proper finance to support our local authorities is forthcoming from the uk government and the scottish government. without that our councils will struggle. yes, i thank my honourable friend for the intervention and i agree with him. i know he will associate himself with me and that we will extend 100,000 welcomes to those who wish to come to the highlands of scotland. mr speaker, we have called for a four nation summit to integrate these efforts across the united kingdom and i hope that the prime minister will respond positively to that. he can take the opportunityjust know if he wishes to do so, that he will meet with the devolved administrations to discuss this and perhaps he can indicate he

is happy to do that. we have it on the record that the prime minister is happy for a four nation summit and i am gratefulfor that. i am and i am grateful for that. i am very grateful- _ and i am grateful for that. i am very grateful. there _ and i am grateful for that. i am very grateful. there has - and i am grateful for that. i am very grateful. there has been l and i am grateful for that. i am very grateful. there has been much focus today on making sure that we offer sanctuary for people in afghanistan. last night i was speaking to a constituent originally from afghanistan and he wants to make sure that there is protection to those already seeking asylum in glasgow. a point was made that, yes, we stand ready to do a lot more of a welcoming of refugees, but i have to say to the honourable gentleman opposite that a0 refugees in that constituency is something he should be ashamed of. fill constituency is something he should be ashamed of.— constituency is something he should be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important _ be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important all— be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important all of _ be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important all of us _ be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important all of us do _ be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important all of us do what - be ashamed of. at the end of the day it is important all of us do what we i it is important all of us do what we can and let me commend glasgow city council. its mps, can and let me commend glasgow city council. its mp5, is msps, but the people of glasgow who have done so

much to welcome asylum seekers into their city. mr speaker, we believe that the resettlement scheme should emulate and exceed the syrian resettlement scheme, but it must also be enacted and deployed much more quickly than was the case in syria. afghan refugees should not and could not wait for up to five years for safety. they need safe passage and they need safe passage now. it should be open to afghans who supported uk government funded programmes and to work for the uk and other international organisations. it should have a minimum commitment, a welcoming of at least 35,000 to a0,000 afghan refugees in the uk in line with the population share of refugees welcome from syria. 3000 of these syrian refugees have now made scotland

their new home, they have contributed to our economy and to our communities. they were syrians. they are now part of scotland's story. they are our friends, they are our neighbours. it is only right we can offer the same warmth and welcome to afghan refugees facing the same dangerous and desperate situation. mr speaker, this crisis has also shown into sharp focus the disaster of the overseas development cuts, rammed through before the summer recess. when the prime minister talks about the increase in spending in afghanistan, it still doesn't take us to the level of spending that was previously committed. these cuts to overseas aid were immoral and shameful before this humanitarian emergency. it is now a policy that is completely, do i not listen? iam

now a policy that is completely, do i not listen? i am afraid the person who is not listening is maybe still on holiday is the foreign secretary, because you have not taken the spending back to the level where it was. no, you are not doubling up. that shows quite simply the foreign secretary... i that shows quite simply the foreign secretary- - -_ secretary... i don't take responsibility _ secretary... i don't take responsibility and - secretary... i don't take responsibility and i - secretary... i don't take | responsibility and i don't secretary... i don't take - responsibility and i don't expect you to, — responsibility and i don't expect you to, we _ responsibility and i don't expect you to, we don't use the word you. the foreign— you to, we don't use the word you. the foreign secretary can't realise the facts of the matter that you have taken spreading to below where it previously was. if you can't accept that, then the foreign secretary can't even count. you could have — secretary can't even count. you could have come _ secretary can't even count. you could have come through me, i am the chair, _ could have come through me, i am the chair. not _ could have come through me, i am the chair. not the — could have come through me, i am the chair, not the foreign secretary. it's chair, not the foreign secretary. it's me — chair, not the foreign secretary. it's me ian— chair, not the foreign secretary. it's me. ian blackford.— chair, not the foreign secretary. it's me. ian blackford. indeed, mr seaker, it's me. ian blackford. indeed, mr speaker. it— it's me. ian blackford. indeed, mr speaker. it is _ it's me. ian blackford. indeed, mr speaker, it is important _ it's me. ian blackford. indeed, mr speaker, it is important that - it's me. ian blackford. indeed, mr speaker, it is important that the l speaker, it is important that the cuts to overseas aid in their entirety are now reversed. mr

speaker, i know he is trying to wind me up. when the rest of us were doing what we can over the course of the last few days, the foreign secretary was lying on a sunbed, so i will not take any lectures from someone like him. people are facing the worst situation imaginable and you have a foreign secretary that is sitting and laughing and joking on the government front bench. the foreign secretary that should be ashamed of himself, that has demonstrated he has absolutely no dignity whatsoever. you can carry on a saying that it is being doubled, but i'm afraid... a saying that it is being doubled, but i'm afraid. . ._ a saying that it is being doubled, but i'm afraid... order! one thing at once. point _ but i'm afraid. .. order! one thing at once. point of— but i'm afraid... order! one thing at once. point of order, _ but i'm afraid... order! one thing at once. point of order, bob - but i'm afraid... order! one thing i at once. point of order, bob seeley. we have _ at once. point of order, bob seeley. we have had — at once. point of order, bob seeley. we have had 20 minutes and we now have a private conversation between the front benches. should we not be debating this, sir? i the front benches. should we not be debating this, sir?— debating this, sir? ithink it is for me to _ debating this, sir? ithink it is for me to decide _ debating this, sir? ithink it is

for me to decide and - debating this, sir? ithink it is for me to decide and i - debating this, sir? ithink it is for me to decide and i have i for me to decide and i have mentioned it twice about both sides trying _ mentioned it twice about both sides trying to— mentioned it twice about both sides trying to antagonise each other, which _ trying to antagonise each other, which is — trying to antagonise each other, which is not a good idea, whether it is this— which is not a good idea, whether it is this front — which is not a good idea, whether it is this front bench or that front bench — is this front bench or that front bench responder or a little bit lower— bench responder or a little bit lower down. i am sure mr blackford is coming _ lower down. i am sure mr blackford is coming to— lower down. i am sure mr blackford is coming to the end, he did say he would _ is coming to the end, he did say he would not — is coming to the end, he did say he would not take too long. mr speaker, this is an important _ would not take too long. mr speaker, this is an important matter— would not take too long. mr speaker, this is an important matter because i this is an important matter because the fact is aid spending in afghanistan is still below what it is meant to be and the foreign secretary has not got the decency to that and accept it. itjust shows he is out of touch, out of touch with what people want in this house and out of touch with what people want across these islands. perhaps the foreign secretary will get a chance to intervene later on, but continuing to chant from a sedentary position shows really he has no dignity and he ought to allow himself some self respect. mr speaker, when it comes to the issue of aid, it is very telling to reflect on the chasm between the amount invested in this conflict and the amount invested in development.

since 2001, the uk government has spent around 27.7 billion in military operations in afghanistan. 0ver military operations in afghanistan. over the same period it has spent approximately 3.8 billion in aid. that amounts to eight times as much spending on military action over supporting communities for helping to rebuild the country. these figures alone should make this house seriously reflect on all those priorities, policies and political decisions that have ultimately resulted in this failure and the failure rests on the shoulders of the prime minister and his foreign secretary. billions have been invested to support these failed military decisions and it is the afghan people who are left paying the ultimate price. mr speaker, i have concentrated my remarks on the

here and now because we understand that the immediate priority must be to do everything we can to protect lives, but in times there must also be a chance to review how the uk's involvement in this region went so badly wrong. it is right to put on record today that there must be a future judge led enquiry record today that there must be a futurejudge led enquiry into record today that there must be a future judge led enquiry into the war in afghanistan. we owe that to the brave men and women in our military who were sent there. many of them not returning, many of them who paid the ultimate sacrifice. let me, mr speaker, thank each and every one of them who have given so much to secure peace in afghanistan. as we exit afghanistan it is our forces have to go back to facilitate departure, putting themselves on the front line once again. it is little wonder that so many of our service personnel and their families are

asking what was our involvement in afghanistan for? we have let afghanistan for? we have let afghanistan down by the nature of our departure, but we have also let down our military. we should salute each and every one of them. they are right to be angry at the political failure. we owe that enquiry to the many professionals and volunteers who were led to believe that they were there to support the afghan people in building their nation. and we owe it to the future that such a massive foreign policy failure is never again repeated. mr speaker, massive foreign policy failure is neveragain repeated. mr speaker, it is clear that afghanistan did not go from relative stability to chaos overnight. the current situation is an acceleration of an existing state of affairs in which the uk, the us and the afghan governments were seemingly unaware. the exit strategy was not properly planned, so it appears that the only people who are planning where the taliban. there

remain so many massive questions for the prime minister and his government. how did 300,000 men of the afghan national defence and security forces seemingly vanish overnight? why was so much trust placed in an afghan government that equally disintegrated the moment that foreign troops left? why didn't the uk government push for a united nations lead exit strategy, rather than silently sitting on the sidelines as the us made their decisions? although history may well cast the final verdict on many of these questions and decisions, we also need the answers and accountability that only a judge led enquiry can ultimately bring. in conclusion, mr speaker,... enquiry can ultimately bring. in conclusion, mr speaker, . .. conclusion, mr speaker,... hurray explanation _ conclusion, mr speaker,... hurray explanation mark _ conclusion, mr speaker,... hurray

explanation mark in _ conclusion, mr speaker,... hurray explanation mark in conclusion, i conclusion, mr speaker,... hurray| explanation mark in conclusion, mr speaker, _ explanation mark in conclusion, mr speaker, i— explanation mark in conclusion, mr speaker, i began— explanation mark in conclusion, mr speaker, i began my— explanation mark in conclusion, mr speaker, i began my remarks- explanation mark in conclusion, mr speaker, i began my remarks by. speaker, i began my remarks by saying _ speaker, i began my remarks by saying that — speaker, i began my remarks by saying that we _ speaker, i began my remarks by saying that we are _ speaker, i began my remarks by saying that we are witnessing i speaker, i began my remarks by saying that we are witnessing a . saying that we are witnessing a humanitarian _ saying that we are witnessing a humanitarian emergency - saying that we are witnessing a humanitarian emergency from. saying that we are witnessing a - humanitarian emergency from afar. but the _ humanitarian emergency from afar. but the sad — humanitarian emergency from afar. but the sad reality— humanitarian emergency from afar. but the sad reality is _ humanitarian emergency from afar. but the sad reality is that _ humanitarian emergency from afar. but the sad reality is that this - humanitarian emergency from afar. but the sad reality is that this is - but the sad reality is that this is not like any means close to the first tragedy experienced by the afghan nation. the story of afghanistan is a country and our people torn apart by tragedy time and time again. 0ver people torn apart by tragedy time and time again. over the years great powers and vast armies have come and gone. it is the afghan people who have always been left behind. there is sadly no evacuation and no escape from them, from foreign policy failure. i am sure for many afghan citizens they simply see a cycle endlessly repeating itself. as an international community we have collectively wronged these poor people for the very best part of a century. we ask the citizens of afghanistan to work with us. we watched as girls were able to receive an education, as women were able to excel in so many fields, for

able to excel in so many fields, for a light to be little point in the path to a brighter future, for so many to benefit from the freedom of opportunity. that light has been extinguished. the future for so many women and girls is one of a dark, foreboding feature. we have let them down, it is now time to do the right thing, for those deserving and in need of our aid and support, now is the moment to act, now is the moment for leadership. flan the moment to act, now is the moment for leadership-— for leadership. can i “ust suggest i am starting _ for leadership. can i “ust suggest i am starting with _ for leadership. can i “ust suggest i am starting with a _ for leadership. can ijust suggest i am starting with a seven - for leadership. can ijust suggest i am starting with a seven minute i am starting with a seven minute limit _ am starting with a seven minute limit. please try and think of others — limit. please try and think of others and shorten your speech to try and _ others and shorten your speech to try and get— others and shorten your speech to try and get as many inter—day. we start— try and get as many inter—day. we start with — try and get as many inter—day. we start with sir peter bottomley. while — start with sir peter bottomley. while the best still apply to join our royal navy, the army, the royal marines and the royal air force, we can have hope for the future. we weep for losses, we acknowledge mistakes, we will remember them.

when i, like other mp5, visited our armed forces in iraq, afghanistan, the falklands and the former yugoslavia, i was with ordinary people working together to achieve remarkable results of significance to us an offer of life—saving importance to others. those who are here were here in the debate during the falklands found a rather different style of debate, when people were united in what we ought to try and achieve. as enoch powell said, the reason to intervene in the falklands is not because it was guaranteed to succeed, it was capable of success, that would have not been the case if we were trying to resist china taking hong kong. 0ur to resist china taking hong kong. our experience in afghanistan on the 19th century and in the 20 years conflict that has now come to an end, it will make people think whether what was aimed for in afghanistan after the initial targets were achieved was going to

have an end which could be happy or content. i don't think it was an example of trying to resist nationalism because the forces in afghanistan are multifarious and have a history which i will not go into now. the second debate, which i have read up on, is the norway debate were again there were some speeches of most remarkable intelligence and experience and others which frankly i think people should have been slightly ashamed of. we have to learn that what this parliament can do is not to be government, but try to question government, but try to question government, support government where appropriate, get them to change at times. on the question of whether there should be an enquiry, i think it would be interesting to hear the views of the chairman of the select committee for defence and foreign affairs either today or some other time because i think that would be useful. i don't want to spend too much time because i want to make up some of the time that was used by

the right honourable gentleman from the right honourable gentleman from the snp who says when he said he was concentrating he seemed to have lost it once or twice and when he said he was being wound up some of us thought he should have been wound down! i think the key issue is obvious. what happens now, what is happening now, and then what lessons can be learned, but what is happening now, the report is given by ministers both in this house and two members of parliament across the chamber are important and please will theirs continue. what can happen will be determined in large part by those presently in command in afghanistan. whether they control afghanistan is a separate issue. people may look back and say the speed of transition in the end might have been better than a prolonged start to a civil war, but that is in the future and we can'tjudge that.

if we decide we are not getting involved in world affairs, the world would be worse. if we decide we have the capability to work with others when we can, and on occasion on our own, that is fine. as parliament we ought to be aware that we probably made a mistake in backing the government over the iraq war and we made a mistake in not backing government over syria and if you compare the number of people who died in syria, the refugees around the world, compare that with afghanistan and i think we should be ashamed of our vote then on syria. mr speaker, i stop now as an example to others. we mr speaker, i stop now as an example to others. ~ .., ., to others. we come to the right honourable _ to others. we come to the right honourable harriet _ to others. we come to the right honourable harriet harman. i i honourable harriet harman. strongly honourable harriet harman. i strongly agree with what was said by the leader of the opposition and to agree as well with what was said by the right honourable memberfor maidenhead who speaks with the experience of having served as prime

minister and particularly what she said about the threat of terrorism and the need to fully reinstate our aid budget, the issues for nato and the proud legacy of our troops. mr speaker, we have all looked on in horror as the events in afghanistan have unfolded and ijoin everyone who is urging the prime minister and foreign secretary to do everything they can to help uk including my constituents, who are stranded and in hiding in kabuland constituents, who are stranded and in hiding in kabul and desperately needing to get back home to the uk. and we urgently need to evacuate those who work with us and feel thereby that they are vulnerable and to whom we have a moral obligation. the government is setting up a refugee resettlement programme and i would urge the government to make a realistic and generous assessment of the scale of the need and to work with all those local authorities who want to play their part in giving a warm welcome to those who are

fleeing. they need to work with nato countries and more widely on an international resettlement programme. but we need to think about those who can't or who don't want to leave, particularly women and girls. when the taliban were last in control there were literally no girls in school. now, or at least up no girls in school. now, or at least up until the taliban took over again, a0% of schoolchildren are girls, so there has over the last 20 years been a whole generation of girls who have been educated and a whole cohort of young women who have been able to work and want to continue to. when the taliban were last in control there were no women in public life, no women to speak up for other women, women were silenced. now there are 69 women afghan mps. indeed, three years ago, one of them came to this chamber to

speakfrom that one of them came to this chamber to speak from that front bench, to participate in our women mps of the world conference and was welcomed by the former prime minister to number 10 downing street. the president has fled, but she is staying in kabul with her daughters in solidarity, she says, with her people. what courage. the afghan army has retreated, but so many afghan women are standing their ground. all those women politicians and activists are determined not to let the progress of the last two decades be crushed. they now face greatjeopardy of the last two decades be crushed. they now face great jeopardy and of the last two decades be crushed. they now face greatjeopardy and i know the whole house and the prime minister and the foreign secretary will express publicly our solidarity with and admiration for afghan women mps who, as parliamentary pioneers,

having stepped forward into public life to make a reality of democracy, that that half of the population of afghanistan who are women and girls now in the face of such an uncertain future are determined to protect and defend those rights. and as to what we can do, i would say don'tjust listen to the male leaders about what we need to do for women. i would say to the foreign secretary don'tjust speak to would say to the foreign secretary don't just speak to the would say to the foreign secretary don'tjust speak to the man. pick up the phone to those women afghan mps. ask them what we can do to support women and girls in afghanistan. then do it. ~ ., ., do it. who are you giving way to? i have finished. _ do it. who are you giving way to? i have finished. you _ do it. who are you giving way to? i have finished. you have _ do it. who are you giving way to? i have finished. you have finished? . have finished. you have finished? right _ have finished. you have finished? right tom — have finished. you have finished?

right. tom tugendhat.— have finished. you have finished? right. tom tugendhat. thank you, mr seaker. right. tom tugendhat. thank you, mr speaker- like — right. tom tugendhat. thank you, mr speaker. like many _ right. tom tugendhat. thank you, mr speaker. like many veterans - right. tom tugendhat. thank you, mr speaker. like many veterans this - speaker. like many veterans this last week has been one that has seen me struggle through anger and grief and rage. the feeling of abandonment, notjust of a country, but the sacrifice that my friends made. i have been to funerals from two to dunblane and have watched goodman go into the air, taking with them a part of me and a part of all of us. and this week has torn open some of those wounds, left them raw, and left us all hurting. and i know it is notjust soldiers, i know aid workers and diplomats who feel the same. i knowjournalists who have

been the witnesses to our country in its heroic effort to save people from the most horrific fates. i know that we have all been struggling. and if this recall has done one thing, let me tell you now, mr speaker, it has achieved one thing already. i have spoken to the health secretary and he has already made a commitment to do more for the veterans' mental health. this isn't just about us. the mission in afghanistan wasn't a british mission, it was a nato mission. it was a recognition that globalisation has changed us all. the phone calls that i am still receiving, the text messages i have been answering, as i have been waiting, putting people in touch with our people in afghanistan, reminds us that we are connected, we are connected still

today and afghanistan is not a far country about which we know little. it is part of the main. that connection links is also to our european partners, to our european neighbours, and to our international friends. and so it is with great sadness that i now criticise one of them, because i was never prouder than when i was decorated by the 82nd airborne after the capture of a city. it was a huge privilege to be recognised by such an extraordinary unit in combat. to see their commander—in—chief call into question the courage of men i fought with, to claim that they ran, shameful. those who have never

fought for the colours they fly should be careful about criticising those who have. because what we have donein those who have. because what we have done in these last few days is we have demonstrated that it is not armies that win wars, armies can get tactical victories and operational victories that can hold the line. they can just about make room for peace, make room for people like us to talk, to compromise, to listen. it is nations that make war, nations endure, nations mobilise and master, nations determine and have patience. and here we have demonstrated, sadly, that we, the west, the united kingdom, does not. this is a harsh lesson for all of us and if we are

not careful, it could be a very, very difficult lesson for our allies. but it doesn't need to be. we can set out a vision, clearly articulated, for reinvigorating our european nato partners, to make sure that we are not dependent on a single ally, on the decision of a single ally, on the decision of a single leader, but that we can work together with japan and australia, france and germany, with partners large and small, and make sure that we hold the line together. because we hold the line together. because we know that patients wins. we know it because we have achieved it, we know it because we have delivered it. the cold war was one with patients. cyprus is at peace with patients. cyprus is at peace with patients. south korea with more than ten times the number of troops than

america had in afghanistan is prosperous through patients. so let's stop talking about for ever wars. let's recognise that for every piece is bought, not cheaply, but hard, through determination and the will to ensure. and that the tragedy of afghanistan is that we are swapping that patient achievement for a second fire and a second war. now we need to turn our attention to those who are in desperate need, supporting the unhcr, the world food programme and so many other organisations that can do so much for people in the region. yes, supporting refugees, of course i supporting refugees, of course i support refugees and i will not get into the political auction of numbers. wejust into the political auction of numbers. we just need to get people out. so i leave with one image. in

the year that i was privileged to be the year that i was privileged to be the adviser to the governor of helmand, we open girls schools and the joy it gave parents to see that little girl is going to school was extraordinary and i didn't understand it until i took my own daughter to school about a year ago. there was a lot of crying when she first went in, but i got over it. it went 0k. and i would love to see that continue. there is a second image i would leave you with and it is a harder one, but i am afraid it is a harder one, but i am afraid it is one we must all remember... for a minute. i is one we must all remember... for a minute- lwonder— is one we must all remember... for a minute. i wonder if _ is one we must all remember... for a minute. i wonder if you _ is one we must all remember... for a minute. i wonder if you could - is one we must all remember... for a minute. i wonder if you could say more _ minute. i wonder if you could say more about— minute. i wonder if you could say more about that second image. |

minute. i wonder if you could say more about that second image. i am irateful more about that second image. i am grateful for — more about that second image. i am grateful for my _ more about that second image. i am grateful for my friend _ more about that second image. i —n grateful for my friend watching more about that second image. i —ii grateful for my friend watching the clock, more than for me. the second one is that the forever war which has just reignited could one is that the forever war which hasjust reignited could lead one is that the forever war which has just reignited could lead to, one is that the forever war which hasjust reignited could lead to, it is the image of a man whose name i never knew, preparing a child who had died hours earlier. carrying this child into our base. begging for help. there was nothing we could do. it was over. mr speaker, this is what defeat looks like, when you no longer have the choice of how to help. this does not need to mean defeat but at the moment it damn well feels like it. applause this is a very serious debate. it applause this is a ve serious debate. , this is a very serious debate. it is a very emotive —

this is a very serious debate. it is a very emotive and _ this is a very serious debate. it is a very emotive and very important speech— a very emotive and very important speech and — a very emotive and very important speech and we have to get through it. speech and we have to get through it lsir— speech and we have to get through it. i ,, , ., «i , speech and we have to get through it. mr speaker, it is a genuine order to follow _ it. mr speaker, it is a genuine order to follow the _ it. mr speaker, it is a genuine order to follow the member i it. mr speaker, it is a genuine. order to follow the member for tonbridge. can i thank him on behalf of the whole has no country, not just for his powerful speech today but for his service and the service of men and women in the armed forces who showed his courage in afghanistan. can i agree with wholeheartedly that if we are going to look forward, we need to work with our international partners in europe and across the world. we need to forge new relationships and not be overdependent on one ally, however important and powerful that ally is. and the failure to do that, indeed the backward steps this government has taken in that regard and recent years as one of the

reasons why our nation is weaker today than it has been for far too long. we are deeply proud of our armed forces, our diplomats and our aid workers who have done so much in afghanistan so it has been heartbreaking to listen to the families, especially for hundred 57 british soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, asking the question in the last few days, what was it all for? and to listen to veterans remembering their comrades. like captainjames kyle who made two tours of duty in afghanistan and said on sunday, after years and years of incredibly hard work from remarkable armed services in the country, i do not know how i could ever ever looked of old soldiers in the irons to say what they did was worth it. —— looked the parents of

soldiers in the imac. will he look in the imac of parents and tell them it was worth it. the american decision to withdraw was notjust a mistake it was unavoidable mistake from president trump's floor deal with the taliban to president biden's decision to proceed and proceed in such a disastrous way. human impact on the lives of millions of afghans, especially women and refugees is the most obvious and alarming consequence. the impact on global politics and on britain �*s national security is so negative that i fear this mistake will impact the lives of millions around the cat —— my current world for years to come. coalition forces were in afghanistan for the protection and security of american and british peoplejust as much as for afghans and for well over seven

years coalition forces have not been doing the best bulk of the fighting, the afghan army has. —— the vast bulk. so when i heard president biden say that afghans are not fighting for their country, i did not believe it, he should no awareness of the fact that 69,000 afghan forces have been killed. i cannot hold president biden to account in this house but i can hold our government to account, our prime minister and his cabinet cannot escape their culpability for this disaster, for both the mistaken decision to withdraw and how that withdrawal has turned into such a catastrophe. from the prime minister's self—evident lack of clout with washington to his negligent ability yet again to master his brief and plan properly for the withdrawal. today's keep number ten has become a national liability. if the prime minister

wants to dispel this growing view of him, let him answer the following questions, what role did a british government play in the negotiations with the taliban that led to president trump's floor deal with them? did the prime minister raise any concerns with president biden about the wisdom of withdrawal from afghanistan and what impact if you did did he have in changing anything about president biden's policy? either the prime minister has a good relationship with the us and failed to exploited or he has no close relationship and nothing to put in its place. his foreign policy is frankly a total disaster. when it comes to britain's withdrawal planning, can he explain why he so misjudged the situation in afghanistan that he told this house back on the 8th ofjuly and i quote, i do not think the taliban are capable of victory by military means. mr speaker, this prime

minister appears to have no understanding of security and defence situation in afghanistan as recently as last month. despite being warned in this house and elsewhere, that the taliban would move rapidly on kabul his failure to act along with president biden have led to the crisis unfolding before our eyes. afghans who risked everything to help soldiers and aid workers are desperate now to escape. refugees fleeing in fear of their lives, women and girls seeing their futures stolen. mr speaker, last night's announcement that the government is willing to take only 5000 refugees next year has utterly failed to respond to this crisis or meet our obligations to so many afghans. finally, it is a frightening failure to achieve the aim of this omission, the aim of keeping british people safe from international terrorists trained in taliban afghanistan. where is the

work through strategy internationally agreed to prevent afghanistan returning... despite the government having 18 months to prepare, this government has not prepared counterterrorism strategy with our allies. i guess that is why this prime minister will not ever be able to look the families of the fallen iinnddii. able to look the families of the fallen iinnddii.——in the eye. ido i do not often mentioned my brother who was killed in bali in 2002 by al-qaeda. it prompted my personal interest in afghanistan, a distant country i would visit a dozen times over the last two decades to better understand what we were doing to rebuild this troubled country and i pay tribute to armed forces for what

they did and what the defence secretary and the armed forces are doing today in the evacuation. it is with utter disbelief seeing is make such an operational strategic blunder by retreating at this time, a decision that is already triggering a humanitarian decisive and a migrant crisis not seen since the second world war and a cultural change and rights to women and once again turning afghanistan into a breeding ground for terrorism. iron sorry there is no vote here today because i believe the government would not have the support of the house. the prime minister is not at his place but he said the future of afghanistan is not written. the future is very much more unpredictable because of actions. i do not believe this will be a peaceful transition to the taliban. it is not university light in the country. the warlords are regrouping as we speak, the northern alliance will reform and a bloody terrible

civil war will unfold. i will reform and a bloody terrible civil war will unfold.— civilwar will unfold. iwill. does he have any _ civilwar will unfold. iwill. does he have any advice _ civilwar will unfold. iwill. does he have any advice for— civil war will unfold. i will. does he have any advice for the - he have any advice for the government and how it could take action to try and prevent the recurrence of the terrorist threat under taliban control? this recurrence of the terrorist threat under taliban control?— recurrence of the terrorist threat under taliban control? this is my fear that there _ under taliban control? this is my fear that there will _ under taliban control? this is my fear that there will be _ under taliban control? this is my fear that there will be an - under taliban control? this is my fear that there will be an attack l under taliban control? this is my. fear that there will be an attack on the likes of 9/11 to book end what happened 20 years ago to show the futility of 20 years. we should never have left and i will come onto that. after 20 years of effort, this is a humiliating strategic defeat for the west. the taliban now and show more territory than they did before 9/11. i was born in the united states and a proud ofjoe national and passionate about the transatlantic security alliance. —— jewel national. i work directly with president byron on veterans metal health issues. he was a keynote speaker here in the house of commons so gives me nojoy to speaker here in the house of commons so gives me no joy to criticise the president and say the decision to

withdraw which inherited but chose to endorse was absolutely the wrong call. yes, two decades is a long time. the us election promise to return trips was a popular one but it was a false narrative. firstly the notion may give the afghans every opportunity over 20 years to progress and the country can be helped forever so it is time to come home. that glosses over the hurdles that we created after the invasion. we denied the taliban a seat at the table back in 2001. they asked to attend the bond talks but donald rumsfeld said now. so the cross to the pakistan border to rearm and retrain. how different the last two decades would have been if they had been included. secondly, the afghan forces themselves, we did not start training them until 2005 by which time the taliban were already on the

advance. finally, we imposed a western model of government, completely inappropriate for afghanistan where all the power was on kabul, completely wrong for a country where loyalty is on a local and tribal level. this is not to dismiss the mass corruption and elitism that is rife across afghanistan but the school by errors hampered progress and made omission harder. there is also the notion cannot fight a war forever. we have not been fighting for the last three years. the us in the uk have not lost a single soldier but we have a minimalist force there, enough assistance to give the afghan forces the ability to contain the taliban and by extension legitimacy to the afghan government. the us have more personnel based on sabc here than it had troops in afghanistan before retreating. —— based in its embassy

here. the us and uk have long—term commitments across the world which we forget about, japan and korea, jordan, iraq, ourselves and cyprus in kenya for example, the balkans as well. success is not rated on when you return trips home. this presence offers assurance and represents commitments, it bolsters security and strengthens the armed forces. this is exactly what we were urging in afghanistan. last year the taliban were finally at the negotiation table but in a rush to get a result, president trump struck a deal with the taliban without the inclusion of the afghan government and committed a timetable for drawdown, all the taliban had to do was wait. the final question about whether the uk can lead or participate in a quality without the us, where is ourforeign policy determined? here or in washington?

0ur government should have more confidence in itself. very briefly. he is making perfectly reasonable and justified criticisms of the way the american government have come to the american government have come to the decision to leave in such haste but like a number of other honourable and right on by members, the implication of his speech is somehow we could have had an independent afghan policy without the americans. can he explain how? firstly, the americans are not leaving afghanistan, this is a myth, the cia will remain there as well as special forces and the drone oversight. why? because they are haunted by a another terrorist attack. it is the leadership that is disappearing because of american presidents and that is where we could have stepped forward and filled the vacuum but we did not. we need to have more confidence as a

government in ourselves as we did backin government in ourselves as we did back in the last century. i thought this was in our dna, we had the means, the connections to lead but what we require is the backbone, the carriage, the leadership to step forward. yet when our moment comes, we are found wanting. we have some serious questions to ask about our place in the world, what global britain really means and what our foreign policy is all about. we must raise our game. why? step back, we seem to be in denial about where the world is going. as i have said this has many times, threats are increasing, democracy across the globe is under threat, authoritarianism is on the rise and yet here we have where we are complicit in allowing another dictatorship to form as we become more isolationist. what was the g7 summit all about? a western reset to

tackle growing instability, not least china, russia and iraq? take a look at the map, where does afghanistan sit? right between all three. strategically a useful country to remain close to now we have abandoned it and the afghan people as well. shame on us. i hope the government thinks long and hard about our place in the fast changing world. bigger challenges, bigger threats loom over the horizon. we are currently woefully unprepared and uncommitted. we the uk in the west had so many lessons to be learnt. i repeat my call from independent inquiry, we must learn these lessons quickly. the west is today a little more laker —— weaker and the world a little more dangerous because we gave up on

afghanistan. mr dangerous because we gave up on afghanistan-— dangerous because we gave up on afrhanistan. i ., «i , , afghanistan. mr speaker, firstly can i -a m afghanistan. mr speaker, firstly can i pay my respect _ afghanistan. mr speaker, firstly can i pay my respect to _ afghanistan. mr speaker, firstly can i pay my respect to all _ afghanistan. mr speaker, firstly can i pay my respect to all those - i pay my respect to all those military personnel who lost their lives. all those who are still under the trauma of mental health, all those who are still suffering from lifelong injuries that were sustained and all those diplomats, all those journalists and 69,000 afghanistan who have lost their lives during the last 20 years. —— afghan soldiers. we went into afghanistan in 2001 to say to the people, we are going to get rid of this military, this medieval regime and we are going to bring you up to speed on what we believe your living standards, your education and your living systems and style should be.

we promised all those men and women that they could move forward. they could bejudges, politicians, could be judges, politicians, teachers. could bejudges, politicians, teachers. they could learn, they could do what we can do, they could do everything that they were to do. that was the right thing to do because they should be able to do that. but now, all those women, othersjudges that. but now, all those women, others judges who wanted to put the system right in afghanistan, will they still be able to do that? the taliban are saying that we will treat everybody fairly but under jurisprudence. islamic jurisprudence. islamic jurisprudence. does anybody understand what islamic jurisprudence is? it is applied by individuals, it is applied by those people in charge at that place. it

is applied by those people who sit injudgment. theirjurors prudence in judgment. their jurors prudence can injudgment. theirjurors prudence can be different from anybody else in that area. —— jurisprudence. we need to look at these guarantees will be to those women and how they will be to those women and how they will be to those women and how they will be treated. 0ver will be to those women and how they will be treated. over the last 12 years we have ta ken will be treated. over the last 12 years we have taken no real action in afghanistan. the 0bama government desert as to what they wanted to do. —— dithered. the champ government did not know what was doing and try to do back door deals and did do back door deals with the taliban. the biden government has just come in and without looking at what is going on in the ground has decided to take a unilateral decision, throwing us and everybody else to the fire and decided to withdraw in a manner that no military person of

any rank would perceive fit in the arena that those people are serving in. what we did wrong during that period and as the right honourable lady from maidenhead and the right honourable memberfor lady from maidenhead and the right honourable member for bournemouth east said, we did not understand the government. we did not understand how they worked. afghanistan has never been part of kabul as an only entity, of those people who run the government that we placed in totally corrupt, hardly any mandate and were therefore themselves as we have seen. as the current president has run away leaving all those brave women to stay and believe in what they believe in. that is the government we supported. had we

looked at the regional possibilities and the regional government, the regional warlords and what they were playing at, we would have understood what the force of the taliban was, we would have understood what their training was and how many people that had been gathering in their ranks. we did not do that. and that is why we are suffering this consequence. president biden has decided to pull out. because he does not believe there is now a direct threat to the us. i do not know where he has got that intelligence from bolasie how that goes. what he needs to understand is notjust about the terror threat emanating from afghanistan. this is also about the economic war in the region that is going on. by vacating afghanistan, by not speaking to his

neighbour pakistan, he will now provide a clear corridor for china and russia to come through. that is the one thing that is not about a 20 year war, that is about the current economy and the position of the geographic area. i hope that he would understood that but i do not think he has managed to understand that. we will leave that debate in the commons for now. very powerful debate. speakers making strong points to the government notably on the government plan for refugees. the government said 20,000 refugees will be able to continue ka from afghanistan, 5000 in the first year. many voices in the commons say is not enough. theresa may also spoke about the role of nato and the

importance of that going forward. she said i am afraid i think this has been a major setback for british foreign policy. tom tugendhat spoke powerfully about his own experiences in afghanistan. he was strongly critical of what has happened in terms of the policy decisions. he said it has been shameful to hear criticism of the afghan forces not fighting for their country and unless you had done any fighting on the ground, you cannot criticise those who do. ed davey for the lib dems said the prime minister's self—evident lack of evidence and clout in washington was what he picked on. tobias ellwood spoke about the loss of his brother in a terrorist attack and he said there had been mistakes made over the years that have led us to where we are now in terms of the situation,

the messy situation in afghanistan and he said that the sense that it would not be right to leave a fighting force indefinitely in afghanistan was wrong because we have not been fighting there for the last three years. let us go back to listen tojohnny mercer. last three years. let us go back to listen to johnny mercer.— last three years. let us go back to listen to johnny mercer. people who 'oin the listen to johnny mercer. people who join the military _ listen to johnny mercer. people who join the military from _ listen to johnny mercer. people who join the military from council- join the military from council estates in newcastle, stoke and birmingham, ladywood served the american flag. best of the british flag. they do it at the behest of ministers in this place. it dishonours their service to simply say the americans have left, we are leaving. we do not spend £a0 million a year on a tier1 military to be unable to go out the door without the americans. the taxpayer does not expect that and i would urge ministers to take responsibility for decisions they make, particularly when talking with the families. i

won't talk about our afghan friends and partners. iam pleased won't talk about our afghan friends and partners. i am pleased with the announcement regarding refugees, it is a good start. people can talk numbers, more or less but the reality is, basic maths, we're not gonna get every minute we promised to so we can say we want more or less. but the truth is as well, we have to be honest in this place. campaigners have for many years campaigned against this relocation scheme and the previous intimidation scheme and the previous intimidation scheme and the previous intimidation scheme and said it wasn't good enough. ministers in this house have made decisions that hasn't made it harderfor them to come made decisions that hasn't made it harder for them to come so whilst i welcome this change today and our on—board privation, let us not kid ourselves about what has happened in the past and treat those who are campaigning with perhaps a little bit more respect than they currently get at the moment. finally, i want

to speak to veterans and for veterans if i can. it is clear to me in the last few days, help for heroes put out something yesterday, these are new feelings we are not trained to deal with. we are not trained to deal with. we are not trained to deal with. we are not trained to lose and we are not trade for ministers to choose to be defeated by the taliban. —— trained for ministers. of course it was not for ministers. of course it was not for nothing. we have to get away from this narrative. for a period of time, afghans the average age of 18—year—olds will experience privileges and freedom that we have here and no one will take that away from them and that is incredibly important. what are we here to do if not to be good and honourable people and fight for the oppressed and keep ourfamily safe and and fight for the oppressed and keep our family safe and lift a higher calling? you did this over many years and some of the hardest

conditions against a stark and element as this nation has ever faced. we off—load herforefathers for inspiration, you emulated them, you did them proud, not in skill but in the same atmosphere and you can be forever proud of what you did when the nation called you. you played euro, you cannot control what is happening now, remember that. what folk like me so you do, the carriage, the sacrifice, the humanity will never died. it has defined human beings. you did that and nobody will ever take that away. i will never forget you and every day the sun comes up, i will make sure this place in this country never forgets you and your sacrifice on the altar of this nation's continuing freedom. government must now step up and support this group of bereaved families and veterans. we will see a lot of mental health

challenges, we are not trained to cope with feelings we have now. i have done everything a possibly good to support other growing staff and the mod, the nhs who work tirelessly for these veterans up and down this country. but i must say to the house with a heavy heart, the prime minister has consistently failed to honour what he said he would do when he was trying to become prime minister. the prime minister must not wriggle out of this commitment on this issue. the office of veteran affairs is nothing like it was designed to be on to knows this. the paltry £5 million funding slashed after less than a year, the lack of staff, not even an office to work from, even today the growing staff simply cannot cope with skill of the problem. whilst his predecessors might get away with a certain degree of ignorance in this place, i am afraid prime minister you have no

excuse on this issue. it is a political choice. the ambivalence needs to end, he needs to step up and listen to the charities, listen to veterans, not those you choose to employ around you, do not believe veterans issues are worth a political capital required. nation cares, we will make this government care, the scale of this challenge and dealing with this afghan generation is onlyjust beginning. i would like to be a tribute to everybody who has spoken of in this debate but especially those who do not have a vested interest in afghanistan and can see the inherent injustice of what is happening and thank you, mr speakerfor injustice of what is happening and thank you, mr speaker for recalling this house today. it isa it is a great pleasure to follow the honourable memberfor it is a great pleasure to follow the honourable member for plymouth, it is a great pleasure to follow the honourable memberfor plymouth, as it was for those for bournemouth

east anton bridge, all of whom spoke with great eloquence. i am wrapped with great eloquence. i am wrapped with a profound sadness at the catastrophe we have seen unfolding in afghanistan. above all, it is an unspeakable tragedy for the people of that country who, after generations of conflict, now live under a terrible cloud of fear and repression. who could fail to be moved by the agonising scenes from kabul airportjust this week? how desperate must you have to be to want to cling on to the side of a moving aircraft? these past 20 years have been a struggle for peace. we tried to break the cycle of war, to give hope to women and girls. we tried to give the afghans a different life, one of hope and one of opportunity. but the catastrophic failure of international, political leadership and the brutality of the

taliban has snatched all of that away. the new administration in kabul should know that they will be judged not by their words, but by their actions. the world is watching. mr speaker, ialso their actions. the world is watching. mr speaker, i also want to reflect on the service and the sacrifice of our brave service men and women, who throughout showed outstanding professionalism and courage. as the honourable member from plymouth moor view said in a moment ago, recent developments have hit them hard. they are grappling with the question about whether all of the effort, the sacrifice, was really worth it. they are again grieving for fallen comrades who didn't come home. but whatever the outcome is in afghanistan, those men and women and their families should be proud of their service and we must be proud of them. many of us

who served in afghanistan have a deep bond of affection for the afghan people. i had the honour of serving alongside them in helmand. we trained together, fought together and in some cases we died together. they were our brothers in arms. but i shudder to think where those men are now. many will be dead, others i know now consider themselves to be dead man walking. where were we in their hour of need? we were nowhere. that is shameful and it will have a very long lasting impact on britain's reputation around the world. i will give way. i britain's reputation around the world. i will give way.- britain's reputation around the world. i will give way. i thank my honourable _ world. i will give way. i thank my honourable friend, _ world. i will give way. i thank my honourable friend, fellow - world. i will give way. i thank my i honourable friend, fellow litigator, is absolutely right in his description of the afghan armed forces. will he add to his comments now that many of them are more heroic and better soldiers than we

give them credit for around the world? i give them credit for around the world? ., ., give them credit for around the world? . ., ., world? i am grateful to the right honourable _ world? i am grateful to the right honourable gentleman _ world? i am grateful to the right honourable gentleman as - world? i am grateful to the right honourable gentleman as i - world? i am grateful to the right| honourable gentleman as i always world? i am grateful to the right - honourable gentleman as i always am. i completely agree with the point he made. it was particularly distasteful and dishonourable of a president biden to make reference to the lack of courage and commitment of those afghan soldiers who served with such bravery and distinction. i think we have to be pragmatic and i think we have to be pragmatic and i think at this difficult point we have to think about what our next move is going to be. we should understand that the character of our country is defined for better or for worse by moments like this. we should also understand that we are facing a moral and humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions and the response from the international community and from the british government needs to meet the magnitude of the moment. so, step up the statecraft, engage with international allies and alliances

and with regional partners and although it is a particularly bitter pill to have to swallow, we must engage diplomatically with the new regime in kabul. it is in our cold headed, national interest to do so, because right now our armed forces are deployed on an operation to recover uk nationals and other entitled personnel. it is in their interest that we engage, to try and ensure the safe passage of those wanting to leave. but we also know that many, many more will want to get out and with our allies we need to work to establish safe routes to get them to safety. we must show compassion and genuine generosity to refugees, whilst accelerating and expanding the arab scheme to support those who supported us. we also need to defend the hard—won progress over the past 20 years or so. girls in

school, women in parliament and in thejudiciary. we must ensure school, women in parliament and in the judiciary. we must ensure that afghanistan does not slide back to where it was pre—9/11. and then, when the dust settles, we need to look at what went wrong and learn the lessons of this failure. why, despite all of the effort we couldn't build an afghan state, free from corruption with the legitimacy and competence to balance the competing forces within that country and what that no means for our foreign and defence policy in this country. regardless of all of that, we must remain engaged, we must show leadership, we must use whatever influence we have to try and make things better. that is in our own national interest, it is in line with our values, and it is the right thing to do. we owe that to the people of afghanistan and we owe that to ourselves.

labour mp danjarvis, veteran of the afghan conflict, having served in helmand. 0ne afghan conflict, having served in helmand. one of the issues he raised there was one of the gains of the war, the presence over the past 20 years has been women being brought into parliament and female judges and i will be speaking to a female judge in afghanistan in a few moments. she came to the uk in 2008 after being targeted by the taliban. 0ur poltical correspondent jessica parkerjoins me now from parliament. that debate has been going since half past nine. many powerful speakersjoining in the half past nine. many powerful speakers joining in the discussion. yes, quite a remarkable debate watching it over the past few hours. it will now go on to 5pm, it was extended because so many wished to speak. 0ne extended because so many wished to speak. one of the striking elements was this was the first time in over a year that parliament is sitting

fully in person. of course proceedings have been virtual and borisjohnson proceedings have been virtual and boris johnson really proceedings have been virtual and borisjohnson really did feel the force of that as soon as he stood up to speak to make his statement. many mps were trying to intervene and he struggled to get through his statement. he was taking so many interventions, sometimes he was struggling to be heard. clearly deep distress and even anger from many mps in the house of commons chamber about what has unfolded over recent days. your market as well about how numerous veterans have been making comments, talking about their personal distress, having taken part in the campaign in terms of what has happened over the last week. boris johnson insisted in his statement that the core mission, taking on al-qaeda, that was a success. now he seems to really want to focus on what can be salvaged from the situation. he is talking a lot about this scheme they have announced four refugees from afghanistan and

humanitarian aid. he will chair a virtual meeting of the g7 in the coming days. he is really keen to try and focus on those global efforts, humanitarian efforts, try to restore that sense of global britain. but something mps raised with him is the fact britain has cut its overall aid budget, albeit temporarily. the real battle for borisjohnson in the house of commons today. the government is really insistent, though, and we have heard this from a number of ministers, that once the us decided to withdraw it was very difficult to carry on, although borisjohnson did say they looked at various options, but in the end he said the hard reality was it was not feasible to carry on in what had been a us led mission was the americans had withdrawn. but what labour tried to do, the labour leader keir starmer, is in a sense at least frame part of this as a personal strategic failure from borisjohnson, that he failed

to see how bad the situation could become in afghanistan, how quickly the taliban might take over. of course they raised the foreign secretary, dominic raab's holiday, he had been accused by some of going essentially a wall while events were unfolding in afghanistan. the foreign secretary has defended himself saying that you can coordinate things from wherever you are in the world, but difficult hours for the government during today's debate and we will continue today's debate and we will continue to hear powerful testimonies throughout the day. we to hear powerful testimonies throughout the day.- to hear powerful testimonies throughout the day. we will go back to it later, throughout the day. we will go back to it later. but _ throughout the day. we will go back to it later, but | — throughout the day. we will go back to it later, but i want _ throughout the day. we will go back to it later, but i want to _ throughout the day. we will go back to it later, but i want to bring - throughout the day. we will go back to it later, but i want to bring in - to it later, but i want to bring in a couple of guests. thank you, jessica. marzia babakarkhail is a former afghanjudge and refugee who moved to the uk in 2008 after being targeted by the taliban. welcome and thank you very much for joining us. the issue of female judges still in afghanistan has been raised in the commons and also in the lords where there is also a debate, a call for the 250 or so

femalejudges to be debate, a call for the 250 or so female judges to be allowed safe passage out of the country because they are at risk. i would like to read what was said by a former lord chiefjustice, lord judge in the lords, and he said that each one of those femalejudges had lords, and he said that each one of those female judges had the temerity from the point of view of the taliban, the simple effrontery, to sit in open, public courts contrary to sharia law, to sit injudgment over men, to pass sentence on men and to imprison taliban terrorists and to imprison taliban terrorists and murderers and rapists. all of those men are now free and they will dress up their revenge as a debt they owe to their god. how do you respond to that? i they owe to their god. how do you respond to that?— respond to that? i think that everybody — respond to that? i think that everybody in _ respond to that? i think that everybody in afghanistan i respond to that? i think that everybody in afghanistan is. respond to that? i think that i everybody in afghanistan is not safe, especially the judges. everybody in afghanistan is not safe, especially thejudges. i am everybody in afghanistan is not safe, especially thejudges. iam in contact with our group in afghanistan. they are really very worried. i think they mentioned about thejudges' worried. i think they mentioned about the judges' lives worried. i think they mentioned about thejudges' lives because worried. i think they mentioned about the judges' lives because as a judge they make decisions for the

taliban and their life is in danger. the same as women activists, the judges will also be in the front and they are the enemy of the taliban. thejudges they are the enemy of the taliban. the judges especially, the taliban don't like women to be a judge. you don't like women to be a 'udge. you mentioned don't like women to be a judge. you mentioned you have been in touch with some. can you tell us what the circumstances are for these women now and what they want to happen? they are very scared. they escaped by moving from one has two other houses, they stayed with friends in villages. it is a very scary time for women in afghanistan, a very scary time. for women in afghanistan, a very scary time-— for women in afghanistan, a very scary time. how do you feel from our scary time. how do you feel from your perspective _ scary time. how do you feel from your perspective here? _ scary time. how do you feel from j your perspective here? obviously scary time. how do you feel from - your perspective here? obviously you did manage to escape into thousand and eight, but these are people you know and care deeply about. to be

honest, i know and care deeply about. to be honest. i feel _ know and care deeply about. to be honest, i feel very _ know and care deeply about. to be honest, i feel very ashamed - know and care deeply about. to ye: honest, i feel very ashamed because honest, ifeel very ashamed because i am not there and i am not there to help them, but they still have my solidarity, my sympathy and i still have my voice for them and especially for women and women's rights. especially for women and women's rirhts. ~ ., . , especially for women and women's rirhts. ~ ., ., , ., , ., especially for women and women's rirhts. ~ ., . , ., , ., ., rights. would any of these women who are still out there _ rights. would any of these women who are still out there regret _ rights. would any of these women who are still out there regret what - rights. would any of these women who are still out there regret what you - are still out there regret what you did in terms of the role that you played and the risk that made you have to leave your country? they are now under great risk as a result of what they did. now under great risk as a result of what they did-— what they did. they have not got re . ret what they did. they have not got regret because _ what they did. they have not got regret because it _ what they did. they have not got regret because it is _ what they did. they have not got regret because it is your - what they did. they have not got regret because it is your country | regret because it is your country and you are responsible for work and to contribute to your country and they are proud. they are educated, they are proud. they are educated, they worked hard for the people of afghanistan, but we have got no idea

what is happening to people in afghanistan. now we are going back and people are going further. the afghan people are going back. they are proud. of course they don't feel safe. but i feel a big shame because when i read the messages, they are crying. it is difficult for me to accept. crying. it is difficult for me to acce t. ., ., crying. it is difficult for me to acce t. ., «i ,. . accept. take your time, it is ok. the taliban _ accept. take your time, it is ok. the taliban is _ accept. take your time, it is ok. the taliban is not _ accept. take your time, it is ok. the taliban is not the _ accept. take your time, it is ok. the taliban is not the kind - accept. take your time, it is ok. the taliban is not the kind of. the taliban is not the kind of people you can believe. i experienced the taliban, everybody experienced the taliban, everybody experienced the taliban, everybody experienced the taliban. it is difficult to trust in the taliban. they are now saying they are a different taliban. they are saying that women will be able to have respect and positions under the

constraints of sharia law. what do you take from that? for constraints of sharia law. what do you take from that?— you take from that? for me it is a big question- _ you take from that? for me it is a big question. what _ you take from that? for me it is a big question. what is _ you take from that? for me it is a big question. what is the - you take from that? for me it is a | big question. what is the meaning you take from that? for me it is a i big question. what is the meaning of the sharia law for the taliban? they made a new version of islam and that is a big question. the kind of uniform they have, the faces they make, just to scare people. afghanistan is an islamic country, i come from a muslim family and i did my sharia law. in afghanistan we are a muslim country. why should we accept some things to bring from outside policy into my country? why? why should we accept the virgin of islam by the taliban? i accept my version of islam, the koran, that is it. i never accept the version of the taliban. it. i never accept the version of the taliban-— it. i never accept the version of the taliban. the people who are

o- osed the taliban. the people who are opposed to _ the taliban. the people who are opposed to this _ the taliban. the people who are opposed to this will _ the taliban. the people who are opposed to this will now - the taliban. the people who are opposed to this will now want i the taliban. the people who arej opposed to this will now want to leave. there are reports of executions, although the taliban says that it is giving an amnesty to those who worked for the government orany those who worked for the government or any other foreign organisations. but in terms of any resistance, any standing upfor but in terms of any resistance, any standing up for the values that you are talking about, do you see that as any sort of possibility? the former deputy has gone to the only part of the country that is not controlled by the taliban and has said that from there he would like there to be solidarity and resistance, but do you think that is possible? resistance, but do you think that is ossible? ., .., , resistance, but do you think that is ossible? ., ,., , , resistance, but do you think that is ossible? ., , , ., possible? nobody will be safe of the taliban. really _ possible? nobody will be safe of the taliban. really i _ possible? nobody will be safe of the taliban. really i don't _ possible? nobody will be safe of the taliban. really i don't know - possible? nobody will be safe of the taliban. really i don't know what i taliban. really i don't know what kind of values the taliban have, what is the policy of the taliban?

they have an agenda, what they want to do in afghanistan. if we go to the past, the peace talks were there, but they still try to kill thousands of afghan ease. if you remember last year they killed two young womenjudges and remember last year they killed two young women judges and one was very close with me. i think the proof is in the pudding. you can see what is the real face of the taliban. irate the real face of the taliban. we have sacrificed. there is talk of a peaceful handover. can you see any way that there could be a pragmatic future between two such opposed ideologies, where those who have enjoyed the freedoms that they have experienced over the past 20 years, where they could peacefully coexist? it is a difficult question to

answer. i am it is a difficult question to answer. iam not it is a difficult question to answer. i am not very optimistic about when they come together. if the mujahideen and the taliban come together, this is not the solution again. because people in afghanistan, the civil society, the women activists, it will be in the back again because the mujahideen want to be in power. for them it is not very important which kind of parliament it is, a taliban government or an afghan government. in afghanistan the thinking is the man is the best, that is the problem in my country. so my worry as a women activist is for women in afghanistan. the mujahideen and other parties canjoin afghanistan. the mujahideen and other parties can join the taliban, however, theyjust want other parties can join the taliban, however, they just want to have power. but it is not making the future for afghanistan. i am thinking how is it possible that they make a government with an

assembly to have the support of the people. a government made by the people. a government made by the people. if the people in afghanistan like the taliban, why are they escaping? everybody wants to go to the airport in afghanistan. this is a very clear answerfrom the airport in afghanistan. this is a very clear answer from the people in afghanistan.— in afghanistan. what do you think the lea in afghanistan. what do you think the legacy has — in afghanistan. what do you think the legacy has been _ in afghanistan. what do you think the legacy has been over - in afghanistan. what do you think the legacy has been over the - in afghanistan. what do you think the legacy has been over the last| in afghanistan. what do you think. the legacy has been over the last 20 years, but that has been something that was discussed by the afghan veterans in the debate in the house of commons? 0ne made a point people have been born in the last 20 years who only know what life has been like under theirs. do you think it has had much of an impact in terms of changing the outlook? what you are describing there is the older outlook. ., ., outlook. the new generation in afghanistan. — outlook. the new generation in afghanistan, i— outlook. the new generation in afghanistan, i went _ outlook. the new generation in afghanistan, i went to - outlook. the new generation in afghanistan, i went to kabuli outlook. the new generation in afghanistan, i went to kabul inj afghanistan, i went to kabul in 2019, there is a very big movement. all the new generation made a good

future for them. there are universities, some of the students stack phds in different countries. but afghanistan is not the same as 20 years before and afghanistan has moved. afghanistan and the afghan people are not the same people when the taliban had power before in afghanistan. people will not stay silent. there is a big movement in afghanistan. you can't ignore all the things people made.- afghanistan. you can't ignore all the things people made. thank you so much forjoining _ the things people made. thank you so much forjoining us. _ the things people made. thank you so much forjoining us. a _ the things people made. thank you so much forjoining us. a former - the things people made. thank you so much forjoining us. a former afghan. much forjoining us. a former afghan judge who came to the uk in 2008 after being targeted by the taliban herself. thank you so much for sharing your perspective with us. let's speak now to the former british ambassador to afghanistan, sir nicholas kay. welcome, thank you very much for joining us. well, i mean, i don't know how much you have been able to

listen to of the debate in the commons, a very powerful debate. what are your thoughts today? indeed, yes, a lot of powerful interventions in the house of commons, speeches and emotions clearly running high here and across the world and in afghanistan as well. i think, the world and in afghanistan as well. ithink, my the world and in afghanistan as well. i think, my feeling the world and in afghanistan as well. ithink, my feeling is the world and in afghanistan as well. i think, my feeling is that we are all in the process of adjusting to a new reality and it is not easy. there are so many uncertainties and unknowns. the clearest thing that we do know that we need to focus on, as the previous speaker was saying, is helping those vulnerable afghans who want to leave and who are at risk to leave. they should have the right of freedom of movement and the uk should be generous in its receiving of them. that is a very high priority. beyond that when you survey the scene that the taliban

have now assumed responsibility presumably for running the whole of afghanistan, my biggest worry is that they are just not up to the job. they are really not ready for this task. there are looming problems, a humanitarian crisis, not enough food and money for the country, huge economic problems as well. they depend upon foreign donors for 75% of their public spending. they haven't got foreign currency reserves in their backs, and immediate problem there. they will be suffering inflation extremely quickly and that will hurt poor people. so... it is not a pretty picture. poor people. so... it is not a pretty picture-— poor people. so... it is not a pretty picture. one of the issues that was raised _ pretty picture. one of the issues that was raised by _ pretty picture. one of the issues that was raised by tobias - pretty picture. one of the issues. that was raised by tobias ellwood pretty picture. one of the issues - that was raised by tobias ellwood in particular where the mistakes that have led us to where we are. picking up have led us to where we are. picking up on what you were talking about, the reliance on foreign donors, and the reliance on foreign donors, and the government said it is going to

be doubling expenditure, or contributions to afghanistan. discussion around whether that even takes the country back to the level of contributions that they were from here before the cuts. but when you are sending money to a country that is led by the taliban what does that mean in terms of how much trust there can be over how that gets dispersed?— dispersed? yes, it is a very important _ dispersed? yes, it is a very important question. - dispersed? yes, it is a very important question. for. dispersed? yes, it is a very - important question. for humanitarian purposes, this is for providing food for the 5.5 million people who are food insecure, and helping them to survive through sanitation and shelter and classic humanitarian needs, that funding from donors i believe should continue to flow. but it flows through un agencies and flows through ngonot through the taliban. i think there will be

practical cooperation with the taliban because that will be necessary to ensure delivery of this, and that is a really big priority and i am very glad the uk has announced that along with the g7 and others they want to lead a massive humanitarian... winter is just around the corner and people will be suffering enormously through this combination of conflict and poverty. so i think for that, yes, but for other engagement with the government, they have an enormous economic looming crisis. the first test for the taliban is what kind of government will they establish? they need to recognise they don't have the competence, the skills, therefore they need to be inclusive of those who do, non—taliban, and

they need to be inclusive of other political ideologies, other ethnic groups as well. let's see in the next day or so if they can establish a reasonably broad—based, representative and credible government. {in representative and credible government.— representative and credible rovernment. . ., , government. on that, and this goes to the point — government. on that, and this goes to the point that _ government. on that, and this goes to the point that i _ government. on that, and this goes to the point that i mention - government. on that, and this goes to the point that i mention from - to the point that i mention from tobias ellwood, he says it was a mistake right at the beginning when the taliban was ousted not to include them in peace talks. there has been the sense that they cannot be this, how can there be a merging of the extreme ideology with the pragmatism? you indicate it is possible? i pragmatism? you indicate it is ossible? ., �* «i ., pragmatism? you indicate it is ossible? «i ., ., pragmatism? you indicate it is ossible? ., �* «i ., ., , possible? i don't know, to be honest. the _ possible? i don't know, to be honest. the taliban's - possible? i don't know, to be honest. the taliban's track i possible? i don't know, to be - honest. the taliban's track record on this is not strong, not good at all. they are pretty non—inclusive and pretty dogmatic. however, just today there are talks taking place between the former president made

cars i, the former chief executive abdullah abdullah, and other political leaders, taking place with the taliban. let's see, maybe some pragmatism could creep in. but we have heard the taliban profess all sorts of good things and they are on a charm offensive. let's not forget the charm offensive has got two bits to it, charm and offensive. i don't trust them and i don't think we should trust them. we should test them and we should see, fine, they have said good things, let see if those are matched by actions before we rush into any decisions and engagements we have with them. sir nicholas kay, former british ambassador to afghanistan, thank you forjoining us. let's talk to dr waheed arian, an nhs a&e doctor who came to the uk

as a refugee from afghanistan. he was 15 years old. thank you so much forjoining us. obviously the debate in the commons about what has gone wrong and what needs to happen now, what are your thoughts? the revious now, what are your thoughts? iie: previous figures, now, what are your thoughts? ti9 previous figures, including the former ambassador, previous figures, including the formerambassador, highlighted previous figures, including the former ambassador, highlighted the humanitarian crisis. i think on one hand we can reflect on what went wrong, but now people are in crisis and there is a humanitarian crisis that will unfold even more, very exponentially. i remember the crisis of 1992, the civil war, which i was born into. we were running from one street to another, hiding from daily rockets, bombs, dodging bullets stop that was the life we had between 1992 all the way up until 1999 and sadly because of that the were shut, the health care sector was completely shut down, the economy crumbled, my father was driving a

taxi for six months to afford to buy a sack of rice to feed us and that led to me leaving the country aged 16 as a refugee because i didn't have a future. i left my family behind and everything. i came to the uk to make a better life for myself and to get safety. this is a humanitarian crisis that people dread, that it might go in that direction at some point, that is why they are so traumatised. almost everybody has ptsd in afghanistan, i brought that symptom with me as well. they are physically and mentally tired of going through cycle after cycle of international military intervention and then abrupt abandonment. 0n military intervention and then abrupt abandonment. on this occasion going forward we really have to intervene on the humanitarian front. thousands of people have already been injured, tens of thousands of people have already been displaced in various locations. they don't

have food or shelter. they don't have food or shelter. they don't have medicine. 0ne charity is operating throughout afghanistan and i get those messages from my family members and these hospitals, doctors who are connected to it and we give them advice over the phone, doctors from the nhs and across the world, and they are telling us they don't have vaccine, they don't have ppe, we have even forgotten the pandemic. going into the winter and for many years to come the crisis will deepen and it is very important that we keep helping afghanistan through a very solidarity front, an international front, very solidarity front, an internationalfront, and not international front, and not completely internationalfront, and not completely abandon it. whatever the politics we play, the humanitarian side needs to continue otherwise people will suffer and are suffering. it brings me to a point about the refugee crisis. we have seen the heartbreaking images, and when i saw that plane taking off it broke me into tears. i was one of those children on my own leaving my

family behind aged 15 and i got on one of the planes with a false documentjust to get one of the planes with a false document just to get away because there are no formal routes for people to leave the country. even the existing routes, the resettlement scheme that has been announced, that is hopeful, but it is not enough. people when they are fleeing they don't have the time, two, three, four years to wait. that needs to be extradited and the government should think about the borders and scrap that, so people who arrive on our shores from whichever direction they should be given safety and the compassion they deserve. all they want is to be looked at as human beings the same as i was looked at. when i came i had nothing, no family support, hardly any education, $100 in my pocket, but i was given safety by the british government and were shown compassion by the british people and that allowed me to realise my dream of becoming a doctor and going to cambridge

university and studying. there are so many others who equally have dreams. there is a new generation over the past 20 years who have flourished, their ideas, and their futures and in their minds what they would shake and what it looked like and suddenly that has all disappeared. we need to look into that whenever they arrive here or whichever country they go to, for them to be able to find safety and to realise their dreams. a lot of the refugees when they come into the host countries go on to contribute immensely. i am a friend in the doctor and i have been working throughout the pandemic and there are so many other former refugees working in the nhs. there are various examples that if they are given human rights, they help society as well and hopefully at some point if there is peace in afghanistan and an inclusive government, we would all like to give back to afghanistan as well. our charity has been operating since

0ur charity has been operating since 2015 and i would like personally to continue that operation in afghanistan as a charity. i am desperately trying to find ways. we are in touch with our doctors and thankfully we are using a very pioneering system by using social media and whatsapp to communicate and we operate everywhere. soi so i hope the international community will expedite and negotiate and the taliban has so far allowed them to be operational by the humanitarian crisis is a huge one and they need to focus on it and not focus on just the political date —— debate and the refugee crisis. it is really interesting to hear from you, thank you very much forjoining us. you, thank you very much for 'oining us. .. ,, you, thank you very much for 'oining us. .. «i y ., you, thank you very much for 'oining us. . «i i. you, thank you very much for 'oining us. . «i : you, thank you very much for 'oining us. thank you so much for having me. we'll have more _ us. thank you so much for having me. we'll have more on _ us. thank you so much for having me. we'll have more on the _ us. thank you so much for having me. we'll have more on the debate - us. thank you so much for having me. we'll have more on the debate in - us. thank you so much for having me. we'll have more on the debate in the | we'll have more on the debate in the commons and in the lords on what has happened and what needs to happen

going forward in terms of afghanistan. right now we will catch up afghanistan. right now we will catch up with the business news. and rises in the cost of living slowed in the year tojuly. figures show that inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, increased by two per cent last month — in line with the bank of england's target. the dip was driven by price falls in clothing and footwear. in other business news, nandos has had to temporarily close around 50 of its restaurants after running out of its staple — peri peri chicken. the company apologised in a statement online, saying the uk supply chain is at fault. northern ireland has not been affected by the supply issues. food and other supply chains across the uk have struggled to operate normally this summer, due to high numbers of staff being forced to self—isolate. let's get more on both of those stories now with our business presenter, alice baxter.

hello there, yes, so the price of food inflation, that number we have looking out for came out a little bit lower than many economists were expecting. forthe bit lower than many economists were expecting. for the last two months as measured by the cpi index came in at 2.5% today according to the office of national statistics it came in at 2% which is bang on the bank of england target and law than many expected. but economists out there are saying hold on, this does not necessarily put paid to concerns out there that inflation is marching higher this year. some predictions are saying it could reach for percent. they are saying perhaps it is just percent. they are saying perhaps it isjust pause in inflation percent. they are saying perhaps it is just pause in inflation driven percent. they are saying perhaps it isjust pause in inflation driven by a debt in the price of clothing and footwear. —— could reach a%. but yes, inflation coming in at 2% today

which is bang on the bank england target. which is bang on the bank england tarret. ., ., , .,, , target. you mentioned problems with nando's and — target. you mentioned problems with nando's and their— target. you mentioned problems with nando's and their chickens, _ target. you mentioned problems with nando's and their chickens, what - target. you mentioned problems with nando's and their chickens, what is i nando's and their chickens, what is going on? 50. nando's and their chickens, what is aroin on? ., , going on? so, nando's the high street favourite _ going on? so, nando's the high street favourite is _ going on? so, nando's the high street favourite is reporting - going on? so, nando's the high street favourite is reporting a i street favourite is reporting a shortage of a few things on its menu but mainly its famous peri— peri sauce, saying that shutting restaurants because it is running short of supplies in some of them and it is lending some of its —— some of its staff to suppliers to get things moving. it is a victim of what many companies across the uk have suffered throughout the pandemic, issues in the supply chain popping up across industries and locations due to the coronavirus restrictions, due to brexit and due toissues restrictions, due to brexit and due to issues we had in 2020, problems with the canal and —— with the suez

canal and problems with china have affected the supply issue and also businesses have affected by the pingdemic. staff have been isolated because of the cortona virus. kfc, the fast fade —— food chain has cited supplies as the same problem. nando's has sent out a tweet apologising to customers who may find some of the favourites not available and the uk supply chain is having a bit of a nightmare at the moment. this is affecting some of our restaurants across the uk and are doing everything we can to get their petty paycheque and back on your plate. so nando's telling their customers like so many businesses is

suffering from the supply chain and a victim of the pingdemic. we will keep and i on the stories for you throughout the day.— keep and i on the stories for you throughout the day. thank you very much. as we've been hearing, borisjohnson has said the uk will work with international partners on a "shared plan to support the people of afghanistan" after taliban militants seized power in the country. the prime minister was speaking during a debate in parliament, which was recalled following the dramatic events in afghanistan. he said the conflict in afghanistan, over the past two decades, was seared into our national consciousness and that the collapse of government forces had taken everyone by surprise. we will be supporting, doing everything we can to support those who have helped the uk mission in afghanistan and investing everything we can to support the wider area around afghanistan and to do everything we can to avert a humanitarian crisis. the west could not continue this us led mission, a mission conceived and executed in support and defence of america

without american logistics, without us airpower and without american might. shouting. i really think it is an illusion to believe that there is appetite amongst any of our partners for a continued military presence orfor a military solution imposed by nato in afghanistan, mr speaker, that idea ended with the combat mission in 201a. and i do not believe that today, i do not believe that deploying tens of thousands of british troops to fight the taliban is an option. no matter how sincerely people may advocate it, and i appreciate their sincerity but i do not believe that is an option that would commend itself either to the british people or, mr speaker, to this house. mr speaker, we must deal

with the position as it is, accepting what we have achieved and what we have not achieved. we are clear and we have agreed that it would be a mistake for any country to recognise any new regime in kabul prematurely or bilaterally. instead those countries that care about afghanistan's future should work towards common conditions about the conduct of the new regime before deciding together whether to recognise it and on what terms. we willjudge this regime based on the choices it makes and by its actions rather than by its words. the labour leader sir keir starmer said it was unconscionable that not everyone who helped the british forces will come back. the prime minister's judgment on afghanistan has been appalling. mr speaker, mr speaker,

nobody believes that britain and our allies could have remained in afghanistan indefinitely. or that britain could have fought alone. nato leaders were put in a difficult position after president trump agreed with the taliban that all us forces would withdraw by may 2021. but mr speaker, that agreement was made in february 2020. 18 months ago. we've had 18 months to prepare and plan for the consequences of what followed. 18 months ago. we've had 18 months to prepare and plan for the consequences of what followed. to plan and to prepare for the resettlement of refugees, of those that have supported us, for supporting the afghan government in managing withdraw, for securing international and regional pressure on the taliban and support for the afghan government. the very problems we are confronting

today in this debate, were all known problems of the last 18 months and there has been a failure of preparation. let us return life to that debate. iain duncan smith is speaking. would he agree with me we need to offer her hope as well? we he agree with me we need to offer her hope as well?— he agree with me we need to offer her hope as well? we do, the problem is we have pulled _ her hope as well? we do, the problem is we have pulled out _ her hope as well? we do, the problem is we have pulled out and _ her hope as well? we do, the problem is we have pulled out and the - is we have pulled out and the americans have pulled out and that is the problem. we have to find a way now to support them. those who need to come here must come here, the doors must be open and we must do what we need today. the problem i haveis do what we need today. the problem i have is the west upholding democracy and human right is in retreat. we have opened the door to the chinese and russians who kept their embassies open throughout the whole of this with all of their staff with permission from the taliban. the chinese ministerfor is now permission from the taliban. the chinese minister for is now meeting the taliban, they have recognise the

taliban so what are we dealing with here? taiwan, let me read what the mouthpiece of the chinese government said yesterday, from what has happened in afghanistan, those in taiwan shall see that once there is a breakdown in the streets, the island's defence shall collapse in hours and the us military will not come to help. that would have gone out under the directive of the president, they know what they are dealing with and their belief is we will not stand up for freedom. we will not stand up for freedom. we will not stand up for democracy and we have encouraged those totalitarian states and those terrible oppressive states we know of, we have encouraged them to believe we are in full retreat. after saigon, america left the global stage for a decade and there was terrible consequences. iran and everywhere else. we cannot allow that to happen again. i criticise

america for this but i know also the arrow greatest and best allies and best opal freedom. we arrow greatest and best allies and best opalfreedom. we need arrow greatest and best allies and best opal freedom. we need to arrow greatest and best allies and best opalfreedom. we need to bring them back, that is thejob best opalfreedom. we need to bring them back, that is the job of the british government is now to bring americans back and realise their commitment. let me quote whatjohn kennedy said all years ago, let every nation know whether it wishes us ill or not, we will bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to ensure the survival and success of liberty. that is what should enshrine our purpose. the concept of democracy and human rights act are delicate flower, it is not the natural state of being unless you depend it. we must defend it whatever it is. yes, there are costs, there is a better way in afghanistan but what we have donein way in afghanistan but what we have

done in this chaotic rush, despicable retreat from kabul, is to enhance in and embolden those who would bring it down. i remind those in the house that president reagan when pressed about this, and i hope the us listens to this one, he said freedom is never more than a generation away from extinction, it must be aath. we in this house take these liberties for granted. —— it must be fought for. we must speak out, america must come back and we must send a signal immediately that we are not going to give way and the totalitarian states of china and russia cannot win in the end, that islamic extremism cannot be findable told. yes we want to say taliban must step up but what will be do about it? now we have to pick means behind words. this house must make

that happen. —— we have to put means behind words. i that happen. -- we have to put means behind words-— behind words. i pay tribute to every word in this — behind words. i pay tribute to every word in this debate _ behind words. i pay tribute to every word in this debate and _ behind words. i pay tribute to every word in this debate and from - behind words. i pay tribute to every word in this debate and from both l behind words. i pay tribute to every l word in this debate and from both of our colleagues who have themselves served in afghanistan and to all of their colleagues over many years to those in our armed forces, particularly those who have lost their lives, including two brave soldiers. and also to pay tribute to those who worked on our aid agencies, those who have worked on partner organisations for our support, developmentand partner organisations for our support, development and education projects to try and rebuild the future for afghanistan and for all of those who have worked so hard and made it possible for families to live in some semblance of security, for girls and children to be able to go to school for many years. but

thatis go to school for many years. but that is what makes it so disturbing and shameful and distressing to watch the events in afghanistan right now. people who have worked with us, people who helped us now hiding, their lives at risk. women and girls forced to hide in their homes simply because they are women and girls. hardline extremists and terrorists back in charge, creating a security risk across the globe and no evidence or strategy from the us, from the uk and our allies of what instead just looks like a chaotic retreat. we have a responsibility to respond and i want to focus particularly on the practical things i think should be done and can be done now to address the humanitarian crisis. first, those who have put their lives at risk working with us. i welcome the afghan relocation policy but it is too narrow, it

refers to directly employed staff last 20 years and much of the work of the uk government has been through contracts with uk agencies and organisations. the taliban do not recognise the complexity of the contracting out process so many of those lives are also at risk. for some of those organisations have beenin some of those organisations have been in touch with their staff and former employees and have told me that one women who worked on uk aid programmes for three years is now in hiding in kabul. only three weeks ago one of my neighbours told me that when they come, he will tell them who i am in my family is. a couple of days ago a strange mantaux main street i know where you work and who you are. i fear seeing my children tortured in front of my eyes are having my skin peeled off while i am alive. we remain locked

inside fearful of looking outside, every time the dornoch sphere goes through my body and ifear every time the dornoch sphere goes through my body and i fear they're coming for me. —— the door knocks fear goes. another organisation said taliban fighters arrived at our home this week asking for my father by name. my father told the taliban i had gone abroad for treatment but they forced their way into the house and searched every room. we have obligation to these people. thank ou for obligation to these people. thank you for giving _ obligation to these people. thank you for giving way _ obligation to these people. thank you for giving way and _ obligation to these people. thank you for giving way and i _ obligation to these people. thank you for giving way and i am - obligation to these people. thank you for giving way and i am sure i obligation to these people. thank you for giving way and i am sure she and many people nous had been contacted by people desperately worried by people —— by family in afghanistan. 0ne constituent said her pregnant wife isn't afghanistan and the taliban have removed the satellite so she cannot get a message. she did not have the

english—language requirement on the application form, surely now is the time to relax at requirement? she makes a time to relax at requirement? ’si9 makes a powerful time to relax at requirement? 5i9 makes a powerful point. this is the kind of facility the uk government could adopt right now, measures like that for those with families at risk but also very —— urgently reviewing the scope of the relocation scheme. the home secretary said this morning those who work for the ngo and delivered eight programmes would also be included. that is not happening on the ground right now. it is not happening in the guidance operating at the moment in the application process and people are being turned down as we speak this weekend, even though they are at risk and have worked on uk funded programmes. i would urge the government to urgently look at the relocation scheme, people cannot work for the resettlement scheme to be in place. let me talk about that,

i welcome the government commitment to the resettlement scheme, the prime minister confirmed to me earlier the pledge to help 5000 people is in addition to the commitment made in 2019 to resettle 5000 people a year from across the world. it is not instead of that. the scheme has not been fully reinstated after covid and needs to be. the fact that infrastructure and funding is in place should make it possible for us very urgently to put in place the afghan relocation scheme and accelerate and be more ambitious than the announcement the home secretary made this morning and i would urge again the government to work urgently with the agencies on the ground who can identify straightaway those people who are most at risk. to recognise as well i urge the government to recognise the position of those were currently here and might have had their application for asylum turned down

before the current circumstances escalated. please can those cases also be urgently reviewed rather than refused on the basis of out of date crimes. finally, can i urge the government to do more to provide support for refugees in the region because we know there will be more people fleeing. we have a responsibility not to turn backs and although it may feel very bleak, we have a duty not to disengage. thank ou ve have a duty not to disengage. thank you very much. _ have a duty not to disengage. thank you very much, madam _ have a duty not to disengage. thank you very much, madam deputy - have a duty not to disengage. thank you very much, madam deputy speaker. there is a picture of sir winston churchill above my desk in my constituency office, underneath it reads, we are all of us defending a cause, the cause of freedom and justice, of the week against the strong, law against violence, mercy and tolerance against brutality and

iron bound to donate. sir winston churchill was talking of 19a2 but in many ways it talks of afghanistan throughout the centuries and certainly in the 21st. irate throughout the centuries and certainly in the 21st.- certainly in the 21st. we are leavin: certainly in the 21st. we are leaving that _ certainly in the 21st. we are leaving that debate - certainly in the 21st. we are leaving that debate in - certainly in the 21st. we are leaving that debate in the i certainly in the 21st. we are - leaving that debate in the commons, it continues on bbc parliament if you want to continue. let it continues on bbc parliament if you want to continue.— it continues on bbc parliament if you want to continue. let me bring ou you want to continue. let me bring you comments _ you want to continue. let me bring you comments from _ you want to continue. let me bring you comments from lord _ you want to continue. let me bring you comments from lord dannatt l you want to continue. let me bring | you comments from lord dannatt in the house of lords, the manner and timing of the collapses direct result of president biden's decision to withdraw us forces by the 20th anniversary of 9/11, at a stroke he has undermined the patient work of the past ten — 15 years to build up the past ten — 15 years to build up the government of afghanistan, transform their civil government and build up their security forces. the only glimmering hope is that the taliban of 2021 is not the taliban 2001. he also called a public

inquiry into the campaign in afghanistan and it should focus on strategic decision—making both at political and military levels and their interface. the former prime minister theresa may reflected on the long—term implications of the western worlds withdrawl of afghanistan. it must also be of key concern to us, the message this sends around the world to those who would do the west harm, the message it sends about our capabilities and most important about our willingness to defend our values. what does it say about us as a country? about nato if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision taken by the united states? we all understand the importance of american support, about our capabilities and most important about our willingness to defend our values. what does it say about us as a country? about nato if we are entirely dependent on a unilateral decision taken by the united states?

we all understand the importance of american support, but despite the comments from my right honourable friend earlier, i do find it incomprehensible and worrying that the united kingdom was not able to bring together not a military solution, but an alternative alliance of countries to continue to provide the support necessary, to sustain a government in afghanistan. surely one outcome of must be a reassessment of how nato operates. nato is the bedrock of european security, but russia will not be blind to the implications of this withdrawal decision and the manner in which it has been taken. neither will china and others have failed to notice the implications, because in recent years the west has appeared to be less willing to defend its values. this cannot continue because if it does, it will embolden those who do not share those values and wish to impose their way of life on others. i'm afraid i think this has been a major setback for british foreign policy. we boast about global britain, but where is global britain on the streets of kabul? that was theresa may speaking during the debate. that was theresa may speaking during the debate. tom tugendhat, chair of the foreign select committee and served in afghanistan said joe biden's comments about allies fleeing were shameful.

he added, anyone who hasn't fought for their country should be careful about criticising those who have. like many veterans, this last week has been one that has seen me struggle through anger and grief and rage. the feeling of abandonment of not just a country but the sacrifice that my friends made. i have been to funerals from poole to dunblane. i have watched good men go into the earth. taking with them a part of me and a part of all of us. and this week has torn open some of those wounds. left them raw. left us all hurting. and i know it is notjust soldiers, i know aid workers and diplomats who feel the same.

i knowjournalists who have been the witnesses to our country in its heroic effort to save people from the most terrific fates. i know that we have all been struggling. and if this recall has done one thing, let me tell you now mr speaker, it has achieved one thing already. i have spoken to the health secretary and he has already made a commitment to do more for veterans' mental health. if you want to carry on watching that debate, you can carry on in bbc parliament and we will have a round—up on the one o'clock news. the comedian sean lock has died from cancer, aged 58. he was well known for his stand—up comedy, as well as his work on the panel show 8 out 0f10 cats and the sitcom 15 storeys high.

many tributes coming in from fellow comedians. bill bailey has said it is heartbreaking to lose my dearest friend, he was a true original, a wonderful comic. john richardson who was a fellow team captain said he idolised sean azhar comic, long before i became a comedian myself and ten years working with them did not diminish that in the least, an incredible comic brain and a unique voice. his agent said it was with extreme sadness we had to say he has died, sean lock was one of the country's finest comedians. the one o'clock news is coming up. very frustrating weather at the moment as our summer keeping us on our dose. this has

been the story in newquay and cornell, cloudy skies continue for the afternoon. there are some breaks in the cloud, north—east scotland and england seem best of the sunshine. some sunshine north of london, we will be chasing the cloudless afternoon. they can offer a spot of drizzle at times, always out to the west. wind direction playing its part, not as strong as yesterday. keeping it cool in scotland, driving in that flow from the atlantic on the west. where we get some sunshine continuing we could see 22 degrees. through the night tonight, with all the cloud we will continue to see more drizzle and missed pushing on of the west but it will not be a cold night. temperatures will hold up into double figures and we do it all again tomorrow. a grey start but a window of finer weather, you can see just here, ahead of another week

weather front which will bring shower a outbreaks of rain. just when you think it is dry and settled and sunny, think again there will be showers in the afternoon. temperatures disappointing for this time of year, highest values 21 degrees. moving into friday, it looks likely we will see another weather front waiting in the wings which will bring outbreaks of rain slowly but surely. head of this on friday, a dry and bright start, clouding over in the afternoon, the rain arriving from the west. temperatures likely to be a degree orso temperatures likely to be a degree or so warmer, 23 degrees with the best of the brightness, and a change in wind direction. we are dragging up in wind direction. we are dragging up some of the warmth from the near continent, particularly in east england temperatures could be promising. it does look that for the weekend we will see heavy and persistent rain as this weather front pages and on the west so mixed fortunes for the weekend, warmth and

sunshine in the south and east but the rain spreads for the second half of the weekend. that's it, take care.

the prime minister defends the uk's strategy in afghanistan — insisting he'll honour the commitment to the country's people. as taliban leaders return after years in exile, mps here pack the commons for an emergency debate about the crisis in the country. in parliament, borisjohnson faced criticism from all sides, as plans were announced to resettle 20,000 afghans in the uk. no matter how grim the lessons of the past. _ the future is not yet written. and at this bleak turning point, we must help the people - of afghanistan to choose the best of all the possible futures. - there's been a major miscalculation of the resilience of the afghan forces and staggering complacency

from our government about the taliban threat.