hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me tonight for the papers are rob merrick, deputy political editor of the independent, and faiza shaheen, political commentator and former labour parliamentary candidate and non—resident fellow at new york university. rob and faiza, good to have you with me. britain out of afghanistan — the telegraph leads on the exit of uk military personnel from afghanistan after 20 years. it writes that the pm promises to honour the sacrifices of those who fell. and a look at those left behind. the sunday times focuses on the eruption of a �*blame game�* in whitehall over the thousands now trapped in afghanistan following the end of the evacuation mission. the final stages of evacuations from afghanistan also lead the front of tomorrow's observer. it reports on claims that

�*thousands�* of emails from charities and mps detailing afghans efforts to escape that were sent to the foreign office were ignored. words of gratitude — �*we�*ll forever be grateful.�* the express quotes the prime minister speaking about the military�*s evacuation of 15,000 people from afghanistan. and �*0ur blood on your hands, boris�* — the words from an afghan translator in hiding lead on the front page of the mirror. so, let�*s begin. we do that with the sunday telegraph. that picture of power troopers dominating the front page, really striking image. 0ne troopers dominating the front page, really striking image. one wonders what they�*ve seen and have to do over the last few days and weeks. yes, absolutely, and i�*m sure many are grateful for those troops. i

look at these faces and i think both how many were even born when this started, but also they must have so many questions for the politicians, not just many questions for the politicians, notjust now, but over the last few years. this article about the last troops out is certainly not the last of the troubles for afghanistan or the questions that will be asked to the questions that will be asked to the prime minister and are parliament as to why we are where we are. there�*s a part in this article that talks about boris johnson wanting to preserve the games, talking about being thankful and the troops. the problem is that anyone watching this over the last few weeks will say, how is it possible, we�*ll be asking how it�*s possible how we�*ve been there for 20 years, and the taliban have come back such quickly —— so quickly with such force. leaving behind at least 1100 people that should have been

evacuated. this really is a very harrowing time for afghanistan and a very important time for us to be asking questions of this government. rob, as we reflect on that headline, britain out of afghanistan, you�*ve got to say is it really out when there are so many people who are eligible or have a right to leave and come to the uk, haven�*t been able to leave? in the body of the article, it talks about the foreign secretary in a telephone call with the german chancellor yesterday, saying the prime minister stressed any recognition and engagement with the taliban must be conditional allowing safe passage for those who want to leave the country. but clearly, anyone who wants to make the journey out of afghanistan to one of its borders is facing a very difficult road ahead.—

one of its borders is facing a very difficult road ahead. we're looking in some detail _ difficult road ahead. we're looking in some detail about _ difficult road ahead. we're looking in some detail about what - difficult road ahead. we're looking in some detail about what they - difficult road ahead. we're looking| in some detail about what they are saying _ in some detail about what they are saying i'm — in some detail about what they are saying. i'm struck by the foreign secretary— saying. i'm struck by the foreign secretary demanding that the taliban guarantee safe passage out of the country _ guarantee safe passage out of the country for the people, the afghans, that we _ country for the people, the afghans, that we failed to get out before. secondly, — that we failed to get out before. secondly, the refugees. he's saying safe passage. he wants them to keep their borders open. of course, the united _ their borders open. of course, the united sting them is closing its borders — united sting them is closing its borders -- _ united sting them is closing its borders. —— united kingdom. ifany afghan— borders. —— united kingdom. ifany afghan he — borders. —— united kingdom. ifany afghan he is— borders. —— united kingdom. ifany afghan he is fortunate enough to get to the _ afghan he is fortunate enough to get to the uk, _ afghan he is fortunate enough to get to the uk, they will be arrested, they will— to the uk, they will be arrested, they will be detained indefinitely. they will— they will be detained indefinitely. they will be criminalised and there will be _ they will be criminalised and there will be attempts to deport them. not in the _ will be attempts to deport them. not in the short term, but in the long term _ in the short term, but in the long term all— in the short term, but in the long term. all people who arrived by

unauthorised routes. they're such blatant _ unauthorised routes. they're such blatant hypocrisy that we expect the countries _ blatant hypocrisy that we expect the countries who are doing so much more than we _ countries who are doing so much more than we are _ countries who are doing so much more than we are to keep their borders open _ than we are to keep their borders open. we've got the prime minister saying _ open. we've got the prime minister saying refugees will be welcomed in the uk _ saying refugees will be welcomed in the uk with open arms. but let's look— the uk with open arms. but let's look at _ the uk with open arms. but let's look at the — the uk with open arms. but let's look at the figures who stop the uk will only— look at the figures who stop the uk will only accept 5000 refugees, which _ will only accept 5000 refugees, which is — will only accept 5000 refugees, which is a — will only accept 5000 refugees, which is a pitiful low number. i asked — which is a pitiful low number. i asked downing street and they expected demand to be low. they said they didn't _ expected demand to be low. they said they didn't think any more than 5000 would _ they didn't think any more than 5000 would want _ they didn't think any more than 5000 would want to come into the united kingdom, _ would want to come into the united kingdom, which is a ludicrous claim because _ kingdom, which is a ludicrous claim because we've seen the tens of thousands of afghan is desperate to flee. thousands of afghan is desperate to flee that— thousands of afghan is desperate to flee. thatjust looks pitifully low. let�*s pick up on the sunday times, which talks about the afghan blame game erupting. to what extent do you think we are going to see of the blame game with people trying to place responsibility for various

aspects of this operation, including in primarily the large numbers of people who haven�*t been able to leave kabul? how much blame are we going to see being placed by those seeking to avoid it? i going to see being placed by those seeking to avoid it?— seeking to avoid it? i think there's one thing to _ seeking to avoid it? i think there's one thing to say. _ seeking to avoid it? i think there's one thing to say. it's _ seeking to avoid it? i think there's one thing to say. it's very - one thing to say. it�*s very difficult to get out so many people in a short period, but look at all the stories and reports of dominic raab not taking important phone calls, the story about how thousands of e—mails have been unopened. this mad story that he could make up that there was an afghan refugee crisis, but it was re—routing them to a washing machine confine. there are all these shambolic stories out there about how this is being handled. 0f there about how this is being handled. of course there will be this finger—pointing of why we are where we are. you hear of people being left behind and other stories

of animals, but at the same time, why are people being put on planes. people won�*t be able to accept responsibility, and it�*s very important that we hold people to account. we�*ve been in afghanistan for 20 years. we made huge promises. there�*s a line here that boris johnson has written to the military returning, but we know there is huge... even on that terrorism, there is a huge question there. there�*s going to be the questions about the short—term evacuation and also about these 20 years in a country and leaving it in such a state. at the bottom of the paper, we have this story about someone who works with uk forces, and in fact, was injured in an explosion in 2011. being helped to climb the airport

fence with his wife and young family. just illustrating as we�*ve seen over the last couple weeks the desperate efforts to people to get into the airport permit or —— perimeter and get on a flight out of afghanistan. perimeter and get on a flight out of afghanistan-— afghanistan. yes, there's so many depressing — afghanistan. yes, there's so many depressing stories _ afghanistan. yes, there's so many depressing stories of _ afghanistan. yes, there's so many depressing stories of so _ afghanistan. yes, there's so many depressing stories of so many - afghanistan. yes, there's so many i depressing stories of so many people who have _ depressing stories of so many people who have been unable to get out. this of— who have been unable to get out. this of course is a heart—warming story— this of course is a heart—warming story of— this of course is a heart—warming story of someone who has been able to get— story of someone who has been able to get out _ story of someone who has been able to get out. an interpreter who worked — to get out. an interpreter who worked with the brits a decade ago. ithink— worked with the brits a decade ago. i think what the story says is the uk troops — i think what the story says is the uk troops actually went out to find it. it uk troops actually went out to find it. ., , ,., , uk troops actually went out to find it. ., , ., uk troops actually went out to find it. ., , _ . the uk troops actually went out to find it-_ they went - uk troops actually went out to find it._ they went out | it. it does say that. they went out to find him, _ it. it does say that. they went out to find him, which _ it. it does say that. they went out to find him, which was _ it. it does say that. they went out to find him, which was obviously l to find him, which was obviously great _ to find him, which was obviously great and — to find him, which was obviously great and it's fantastic news that he was _ great and it's fantastic news that he was able to get on a flight. i know— he was able to get on a flight. i know one — he was able to get on a flight. i know one of the criticisms has been written _ know one of the criticisms has been written in _ know one of the criticisms has been written in general has not gone out to find _ written in general has not gone out to find people that it knows are out

there _ to find people that it knows are out there -- _ to find people that it knows are out there —— that britain. where is the americans— there —— that britain. where is the americans have done that. i don't americans have done that. idon't know— americans have done that. idon't know why— americans have done that. i don't know why that effort was made, but apparently— know why that effort was made, but apparently in other cases, it was not _ apparently in other cases, it was not. just— apparently in other cases, it was not. just go— apparently in other cases, it was not. just go back to what faiza was saying _ not. just go back to what faiza was saying. another unanswered question igather— saying. another unanswered question i gather that france is evacuating people _ i gather that france is evacuating people who worked with it in afghanistan. yet we decided to start a few— afghanistan. yet we decided to start a few weeks ago. that's another blatant — a few weeks ago. that's another blatant question. what we saw with covid _ blatant question. what we saw with covid is _ blatant question. what we saw with covid is borisjohnson has been able to duck, _ covid is borisjohnson has been able to duck, to — covid is borisjohnson has been able to duck, to block an inquiry into his response to covid. unless he takes _ his response to covid. unless he takes a — his response to covid. unless he takes a different attitude to what's happened in afghanistan, he will again— happened in afghanistan, he will again be — happened in afghanistan, he will again be able to prevent the inquiry that so— again be able to prevent the inquiry that so many people want to see. i .uess that so many people want to see. guess the that so many people want to see. i guess the government would say that it isn�*t blocking an inquiry into covid, but we�*ve heard plenty of

criticism that it�*s not happening quickly enough to be useful. if we look at the front page of the sunday mirror, it�*s very critical — "0ur blood on your hands, boris." that was a translator who did get out, but this is a translator who is in hiding from the taliban, who hasn�*t been able to get out of kabul airport and fears for his life and his family�*s life. take us through this, faiza. his family's life. take us through this, faiza-— this, faiza. this is a story of a translator _ this, faiza. this is a story of a translator that _ this, faiza. this is a story of a translator that hasn't - this, faiza. this is a story of a translator that hasn't been . this, faiza. this is a story of a i translator that hasn't been able this, faiza. this is a story of a - translator that hasn't been able to translator that hasn�*t been able to get out, someone that stood along while his troops, british troops thatis while his troops, british troops that is hiding from the taliban. have thought he would be helped if it came to the situation, and it hurts me to say, but we�*re not a

country that honours our commitments. that�*s what it looks like to these people. there was so much hope that was given when the uk in the us troops went to afghanistan, and we haven�*t been told, we�*ve been lied to for many years about the situation there. we were lied to just a few weeks ago when we were told there was no time for the taliban to come back in this way —— no chance. there�*ll be a lot of anger here in uk and the us and the west about how much money has been spent and how this has been dealt with. but also on the ground in afghanistan. when you talk about nations, there�*s a whole millions of people, very angry with the west about the state who have left their country after 20 years after promising so much. this is a really critical time. promising so much. this is a really criticaltime. britain promising so much. this is a really critical time. britain thinks it�*s walking away. this is something

that�*s going to go on for some time. lots of questions about that once the glare of plus publicity moves away. what is happening to the people left behind? let�*s move away from afghanistan and back to the telegraph. rishi sunak lock horns with nhs on covid funding, so some serious pressure coming down the track for the chancellor. mil pressure coming down the track for the chancellor.— the chancellor. all of our attention has been on _ the chancellor. all of our attention has been on afghanistan, - the chancellor. all of our attention has been on afghanistan, and - the chancellor. all of our attention l has been on afghanistan, and we've managed _ has been on afghanistan, and we've managed to sideline covid as an issue _ managed to sideline covid as an issue in— managed to sideline covid as an issue in the last couple of weeks. currently. — issue in the last couple of weeks. currently, autumn as well as covid, perhaps— currently, autumn as well as covid, perhaps getting turkey for christmas, we will be talking about the economy. of course, the recovery

slow the economy. of course, the recovery slow down— the economy. of course, the recovery slow down in— the economy. of course, the recovery slow down in recent weeks. there was an enormous— slow down in recent weeks. there was an enormous financial black hole to fill. an enormous financial black hole to fill all _ an enormous financial black hole to fill. all these departments are going — fill. all these departments are going to — fill. all these departments are going to want more money spent on them, _ going to want more money spent on them, and _ going to want more money spent on them, and perhaps the most deserving cases going _ them, and perhaps the most deserving cases going to be the health department. 13 million people on waiting _ department. 13 million people on waiting lists that desperately need to be seen, and the government has only provided funding for the first six months of this financial year. therefore. — six months of this financial year. therefore, it's an unanswered question— therefore, it's an unanswered question how much money will be made available _ question how much money will be made available for _ question how much money will be made available for the second six months. experts _ available for the second six months. experts say— available for the second six months. experts say it will be a similar some — experts say it will be a similar some. they need many billions more, and this— some. they need many billions more, and this story — some. they need many billions more, and this story says the chancellor is holding — and this story says the chancellor is holding out against that and will do his— is holding out against that and will do his best to cut the bills.- do his best to cut the bills. faiza, the other story — do his best to cut the bills. faiza, the other story on _ do his best to cut the bills. faiza, the other story on the _ do his best to cut the bills. faiza, the other story on the front - do his best to cut the bills. faiza, the other story on the front page | do his best to cut the bills. faiza, l the other story on the front page of the other story on the front page of the observer, which gives context to thatis the observer, which gives context to that is covid cases are 26 times higher than they were this time a

year ago. yes, very worrying watching that. hearing about more and more people who are staying at home and having to go to hospital. of course, when you look at those cases and that uptake, you can see an uptick in the number of people going into hospital and the number of deaths, but not as bad as there were any vaccinations. this questions about what we�*re going to do a schools open, where young people are not vaccinations, the repercussions for those people�*s lives and the nhs and how they deal with that, now has a huge waiting list of cross the board. as well as cancer treatments. this is a really urgent time to talk about

afghanistan, but domestically as well. it�*s very important that we make the investments needed in the public infrastructure to deal with this going forward. 0therwise, public infrastructure to deal with this going forward. otherwise, we are in another prices come christmas, which after the last year and a half, people are not going to want to go through again. potential booster jabs want to go through again. potential boosterjabs for want to go through again. potential booster jabs for people, want to go through again. potential boosterjabs for people, i guess thatis boosterjabs for people, i guess that is a possibility for a rich country like the uk. but much of the world does not have vaccines and because of that, there is a risk of more variants coming up. i know people have got covid fatigue, but this is a risk. we have to think about this as a global community. latte about this as a global community. we are out of time, but faiza and rob, thank you so much forjoining me tonight. thanks to rob merrick and faiza shaheen. goodbye for now.