Ex-solider and Tory MP Tom Tugendhat was applauded for a moving Commons speech on Afghanistan as he attacked "shameful" US President Joe Biden.
In an emotive contribution to the emergency debate on the crisis, the Tonbridge and Malling MP - who has served in Afghanistan - praised the efforts of the military, aid workers, journalists on the ground as the fallout from the snap withdrawal of allied forces continues.
A humanitarian and human rights crisis beckons after the Taliban's swift return to power at the weekend - following a lightning advance into Kabul, which caught western governments off-guard.
Mr Tugendhat laid blame for the foreign affairs disaster squarely at the door of the White House, after the President refused to reverse the US decision to pull soldiers out, while blaming his predecessor Donald Trump for signing a peace deal and Afghans soldiers for failing to fight.
“To see their commander in chief call into the question the courage of men I fought with, to claim that they ran is shameful," Mr Tugendhat said.
“Those who have not fought for the colours they fly should be careful about criticising those who have.”
He went on to suggest the West and UK had not shown patience, adding: “This is a harsh lesson for all of us and if we’re not careful it could be a very, very difficult lesson for our allies.
“It doesn’t need to be. We can set out a vision, clearly articulate it, for reinvigorating our European Nato partners, to make sure that we are not dependent on a single ally, on the decision of a single leader, that that we can work together with Japan and Australia, France and Germany, with partners large and small and make sure we hold the line together.”
Tom Tugendhat ended by recalling his time as an advisor to the governor of Helmand and the “joy” given to families by the opening of schools for girls, adding: “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 and it went OK. I’d love to see that continue.”
He left MPs with a second, “harder” image, which he explained: “It’s one that the forever war that has just reignited could lead to.
"It is the image of a man whose name I never knew, carrying a child who had died hours earlier – carrying this child into our fire base and begging for help.
“There was nothing we could do. It was over. This is what defeat looks like when you no longer have the choice of how to help.
“This doesn’t need to be defeat but at the moment it damn well feels like it.”
MPs across the house took to social media to praise him for his emotional statement on Afghanistan.
Conservative colleague Dehenna Davison tweeted: “The speech my friend and colleague @TomTugendhat just made in the Chamber is one I will remember for the rest of my life. Tom, thank you for sharing your experiences and reflections. I am so proud to know you.”
Labour ’s Wes Streeting wrote: “Britain is very fortunate to have soldiers like @TomTugendhat and Parliament is very lucky to have his wisdom and experience leading the Foreign Affairs Committee. Magnificent and moving speech during the Afghanistan debate.”
And Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone posted: “A most extraordinary, moving speech from my brave colleague @TomTugendhat. He is quite right that the situation in Afghanistan is a harsh lesson. It teaches us how crucial it is that we work collectively with our NATO partners, as opposed to being dependent on just one ally.”
