The UK’s retreat from Afghanistan has been judged the worst foreign policy disaster since the Suez crisis.
You would have thought that the debacle in Kabul would have prompted Dominic Raab to show some humility.
Instead he gave a petulant and defensive performance when grilled by MPs on the Foreign Affairs select committee.
Rather than take responsibility, he sought to shift the blame to the intelligence services and the military.
He then insulted the intelligence of the British public by failing to give straight answers to simple questions.
The Foreign Secretary refused to give the exact date of when he went on holiday or reveal what diplomatic calls he had made as Afghanistan spiralled into disarray.
Nor was he able to say how many British nationals are still stranded in Afghanistan and what steps were being taken to help them.
And there was no explanation for why it took so long to start the evacuation even though the Foreign Office knew in July that the Taliban were advancing more rapidly than expected and the situation was becoming precarious.
Raab’s evasion and lack of candour underscored why he should no longer be in office.
Tears for Tim
Wetherspoons has been left high and dry by the shortage of HGV drivers.
Vote Leave campaigner Tim Martin’s pub chain has said some of its bars have run out of beer because of supply chain disruption.
Exacerbated by Brexit and Covid-19, the issue is also affecting Nando’s and McDonald’s.
The Government can no longer stand on the sidelines and expect the problem to disappear.
What is needed is a comprehensive plan to get goods moving again quickly.
But it also requires haulage firms to recognise that if you want to recruit and retain staff you need to offer decent pay and conditions.
What a Chase
Contestant Eden Nash has made TV history on The Chase – winning £75,000.
His prize shows this was no trivial pursuit.
