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Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Joint Committee
15 September 2021
Lead MP
Lisa Nandy
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Other Contributors: 36
At a Glance
Lisa Nandy raised concerns about withdrawal from afghanistan: joint committee in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Moves for the creation of a Joint Committee to consider Government policy on Afghanistan, intelligence assessments, ARAP scheme, and planning. Emphasises the need to learn from past mistakes and protect the gains made over two decades in Afghanistan.
Adam Afriyie
Con
Questions whether it is up to Select Committees to undertake such inquiries.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Raises concerns about the urgent need for action to secure access at land borders for people still in Afghanistan and seeks assurance from the Government on their readiness to help these individuals.
Kim Leadbeater
Lab
Spen Valley
Stresses the importance of supporting and protecting women who served in the Afghan Government, highlighting their bravery and role in political arena.
Rosie Winterton
Lab
Rother Valley
Announced further news regarding the points of order raised earlier, mentioning that the Government committed to making a statement in response to any votes within eight weeks instead of the previous twelve. Emphasised the time pressure on speeches during the debate and announced an immediate time limit of either five or four minutes for Back-Bench contributions.
James Cleverly
Con
Braintree
Acknowledged the crisis in Afghanistan, highlighted the evacuation efforts by evacuating around 8,000 British nationals and approximately 5,000 Afghans under the ARAP scheme. Emphasised ongoing work to secure safe passage for remaining individuals and shared details on flights from Kabul airport. Stressed the difficulty of accurately estimating the number of British nationals in Afghanistan due to lack of registration requirements.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith
Queried about priority given to family reunion cases under existing 'family routes'. Asked if the 160 letters waiting for a reply would receive any response at all, as the Under-Secretary of State indicated they could not respond with specific updates on individuals.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda
Asked how many British nationals are estimated to still be in Afghanistan and inquired about plans for consular support for Afghan nationals needing visas or permits to travel. Asked if assistance would come through another nation state or from outside the country.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Asked whether the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme was now operational, citing cases of Nowzad animal charity staff who were given safe passage despite not being part of ARAP or British citizens.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill
Requested clarification on the need for British nationals already registered with Foreign Office to fill out a new form, and inquired about urgent advice for a BBC journalist who is hiding from Taliban threats.
Seema Malhotra
Lab Co-op
Feltham and Heston
Inquired about the necessity of filling out another form on Foreign Office website by those already registered, and asked for advice regarding an at-risk BBC journalist who is in hiding.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Called for a larger programme to manage the refugee crisis alongside partners, referencing the UN's triage role in Syrian resettlement and asking about discussions with the UN on handling this situation.
Alyn Smith
SNP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
The Scottish National party supports the motion, expressing a preference for an independent judge-led inquiry. Alyn Smith argues that previous events should be considered beyond the Doha agreement and highlights the need for more collective humility regarding the loss of 456 service personnel lives. He also criticises the government's handling of inquiries and responses during the emergency recall. Smith emphasises the need to scrutinise the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, requesting details on its funding and expansion. Additionally, he discusses wider implications, including the impact on global Britain's credibility and the necessity for domestic policy reviews.
Thomas Tugendhat
Con
Tonbridge
Disagrees with the Opposition and supports the Government's handling of foreign affairs. Criticises how questions have been answered and coordination has been conducted, but acknowledges the Foreign Affairs Committee's work to scrutinize the situation. Calls for a more strategic approach to foreign policy and suggests the new Foreign Secretary should oversee Britain’s foreign strategy in a global sense.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Blames the Government for failing to plan properly, resulting in failure both abroad and domestically. Thanks those who went to aid people in Afghanistan but criticises the lack of updates given by the Government on cases filed for Afghan refugees. Highlights the heartbreak stories of constituents and their loved ones trapped in Afghanistan due to Taliban threats.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
The speaker argues that the proposed Joint Committee to Investigate Withdrawal from Afghanistan is unnecessary and could undermine the role of the Intelligence and Security Committee, which is properly equipped to handle classified intelligence. He suggests focusing on existing government schemes to support at-risk individuals.
Seema Malhotra
Lab Co-op
Feltham and Heston
Intervenes to ask the Conservative MP about handling cases of individuals who worked for intelligence services in Afghanistan but have not been supported to leave, now being sought by the Taliban.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent West
The Labour MP criticises the Government's failure to prepare an evacuation plan and their misleading communication with MPs about prioritising at-risk individuals. He highlights the plight of his constituents' relatives who are being hunted and executed by the Taliban.
Anthony Mangnall
Con
Fylde
Mr Mangnall argues against the motion, emphasising that inquiries will not help people currently in Afghanistan. He suggests focusing on diplomatic levers like the G7 and NATO and supporting NGOs still operating there. Mr Mangnall also advocates for reopening the British embassy if conditions allow it and highlights the importance of preventing sexual violence in conflict.
Stewart Hosie
SNP
Dundee East
Mr Hosie supports the motion to establish a Joint Committee, stressing the need to learn from past mistakes. He acknowledges the proposed timeline but expresses concern about its restrictiveness and suggests that an investigation starting from February 2020 may not fully capture earlier issues like the resurgence of Taliban forces before this date. Mr Hosie also points out limitations in accessing classified intelligence for such a committee.
Kevan Jones
Lab
North Durham
Pays tribute to those who worked tirelessly in Afghanistan and acknowledges the difficult choices ahead. Criticises the motion for including intelligence, arguing it would be impractical to set up a committee with access to such information due to security clearance requirements. Supports scrutiny of Ministers but believes that setting up an inquiry now is premature given ongoing battles with the Government over accessing relevant intelligence.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Supports the motion for a proper and immediate inquiry into the UK government's handling of events in Afghanistan, citing lack of planning, poor leadership, and substandard facilities provided to Afghan refugees. Highlights issues such as delayed action at land borders compared to other nations, internal assessments indicating earlier problems than admitted by Ministers, and the need for better support for Afghans arriving in the UK.
Martin Docherty
SNP
West Dunbartonshire
He emphasised the need to scrutinise how financial institutions in London, particularly those linked with the City of London, may have played a part in facilitating corruption and funding for both Afghan officials and the Taliban during the UK's involvement in Afghanistan. He urged for an investigation into these matters regardless of where it takes place.
John Cryer
Ind
Leyton and Wanstead
He described the situation as 'the greatest foreign policy disaster since Suez' and called for a Joint Committee investigation to understand who made decisions regarding the withdrawal. He also highlighted personal cases of Afghan nationals facing severe threats, emphasising that Members have a duty to represent their constituents regardless of any strictures from Government Departments.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
He referenced the case of Linda Norgrove, an aid worker killed by the Taliban in 2010, and the foundation set up by her parents. He expressed disappointment with the Government's failure to assist in getting people out of Afghanistan, especially Hazara females working for foreign NGOs. He strongly supported calling for a full public inquiry into the matter.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
He detailed the challenges faced by Afghans in his constituency due to the chaotic withdrawal process, highlighting personal cases where intervention was necessary to get people out of Kabul. He also mentioned issues faced by Afghans upon arrival in the UK, such as being confined in quarantine hotels without proper assistance or information.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central
Sobel discussed the urgent need for support for Afghan citizens, including those who have arrived in the UK and those still trying to leave. He detailed inadequacies in governmental response such as lack of basic necessities at hotels used for dispersal and insufficient medical assessments.
Grady highlighted cases where Afghans, including British citizens and interpreters for the UK armed forces, were left behind due to arbitrary visa thresholds and eligibility criteria. He supported a Labour motion for an inquiry into Government actions and criticised the Nationality and Borders Bill for criminalising asylum seekers.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Abrahams emphasised the urgent need for information on British citizens and Afghan nationals still in Afghanistan, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of a clear plan. She highlighted the plight of women judges facing severe threats from Taliban forces.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Mr. Dhesi criticises the Government's failure in their withdrawal from Afghanistan, citing incorrect assurances given to him by Ministers and describing it as a self-inflicted humiliation that has left Afghans feeling betrayed. He emphasises the urgent need for action to protect religious minorities and individuals who assisted British troops.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Ms. Ribeiro-Addy speaks in support of the motion, highlighting the harrowing cases faced by her office involving British nationals and former UK-contracted personnel who remain trapped or in hiding due to fear for their lives. She criticises the Government's failure to respond adequately to these cases despite clear instructions and stresses the need for a humanitarian response.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Ms. Daby shares stories from her constituency meeting with Afghan residents seeking help for their relatives in Afghanistan, emphasising the distress caused to families here and those left behind due to Government delays. She calls on the government to provide more protection against threats of rape, kidnapping, barbaric treatments, hunger, and death.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Owen called for better advice from the Government regarding people escaping war zones, emphasising the need for leadership during a crisis. She criticised the UK's international standing under this Government due to decisions like cutting aid and inaction over human rights issues.
Stephen Morgan
Lab
Portsmouth South
Morgan echoed sympathy for Afghans fleeing tyranny, praising armed forces and officials but criticising the Government's handling of the crisis as a failure to anticipate and mitigate it. He proposed an inquiry into the withdrawal from Afghanistan to learn lessons and be better prepared in the future.
Ellie Reeves
Lab
Lewisham West and East Dulwich
Reeves intervened, highlighting the poor treatment of British nationals evacuated from Kabul, including degrading conditions in quarantine hotels, limited access to basic supplies, and issues with housing upon release.
Leo Docherty
Con
West Somerset
Expressed gratitude towards those who served in Afghanistan, highlighting the worth of their service. Emphasised the Government's commitment to welcome Afghan families through Operation Warm Welcome and recognised the efforts of individuals like Victoria Atkins for leading the cross-Government effort. Criticised the Opposition motion for lacking substance and pointed out specific limitations mentioned by other MPs.
Alan Campbell
Lab
Tynemouth
Moved the closure (Standing Order No. 36), which was agreed upon, leading to the conclusion of the debate.
Government Response
The Minister responded to interventions by providing details of evacuation efforts, clarifying challenges related to precise estimates for British nationals in Afghanistan and addressing specific cases mentioned by Labour MPs.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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