Boris Johnson has admitted that “maybe” the withdrawal from Afghanistan could have been handled differently.
In an interview with broadcaster NBC during his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in the US, the Prime Minister was asked whether it was the case that he had tried to contact President Joe Biden and had to wait 36 hours for a response.
Johnson told NBC: “I don’t discuss my calls with other leaders. For the best of my recollection, we talked very frankly about the whole thing.”
Speaking ahead of his meeting with the US President in the White House Johnson denied he felt snubbed and when asked if Biden had been too “stubborn” over the withdrawal.
Johnson said: “America has been there for 20 years and it’s a respectable argument to say that enough is enough. Look, I mean, could we have done it a bit differently? Maybe we could.”
The PM spoke as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace apologised to MPs over a data breach involving the email addresses of dozens of Afghan interpreters who worked for British forces.
More than 250 people seeking relocation to the UK, many of whom are in hiding, were mistakenly copied into an email from the Ministry of Defence.
The Defence Secretary told the Commons: “I apologise to those Afghans affected by this data breach and with Home Office we are now working with them to provide security advice.
“It is an unacceptable level of service that has let down the thousands of members of the armed forces and veterans. On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I apologise.
“I offer the reassurances that the scheme will continue to operate and bring people back to the United Kingdom for however many are eligible and however long it takes.”
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