Boris Johnson is facing calls from Labour and the SNP to answer urgent urgent questions on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
Labour leader Keir Starmer last night demanded to know if Prime Minister had lifted the phone to personally call US President Joe Biden and ask for the Afghan evacuation period to be extended beyond the end of August.
The SNP called on Johnson to deliver daily updates on the UK government’s evacuation efforts in Afghanistan as the Ministry of Defence confirmed seven deaths in the crowd thronging Kabul airport.
Starmer wrote to the Prime Minister on Sunday with a list of questions on the next steps the UK will take in relation to Afghanistan.
As well as demanding clarification on extending the evacuation deadline Starmer called on the PM to co-ordinate with other Nato and UN forces to ensure safe passage of evacuees to the airport.
He also called on the PM to ensure that neighbouring countries provide shelter to refugees who spill over the border.
Starmer said the PM must update the UK public and those waiting for news of evacuees with a statement in the coming days.
Starmer said: “I have previously raised my concern about the lack of foresight and planning undertaken, particularly there was eighteen months’ notice given for US withdrawal. Proper planning for the coming days will ensure that no one to whom we owe so much will be left behind.
Similar demands came from Ian Blackford MP, the SNP Westminster Leader, who called on the Prime Minister to release the data on the number of evacuees being airlifted out from the chaos of Kabul.
Blackford said: “As the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues to unfold, complete clarity and transparency is required.
“Those facing the agonising wait for evacuation are desperate for information, desperate for clarity and are desperately trying to get away from the Taliban.
“That is why I have written to Boris Johnson urging him to deliver daily updates on the evacuation efforts, and to offer a platform for leaders of the opposition and the media to ask necessary and appropriate questions."
Blackford added: "Every MP across the House is currently speaking with constituents who are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of family members in Afghanistan - daily updates on their safety and plans for their evacuation would provide them with the detail and assurance they are crying out for."
“As well as updating the public daily, the Prime Minster must also commit to increasing the number of Afghan refugees allowed into the UK under the new Afghan Resettlement Scheme to at least 35,000.”
A desperate Johnson yesterday announced that he was convening an emergency meeting of the G7 nations in an attempt to show that he was regaining some control of the situation.
Johnson also spoke to Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the crisis in Afghanistan.
On the ground at Kabul airport British Ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow said the soldiers and staff were working around the clock to get British nationals, Afghan workers and Embassy staff to safety.
He tweeted: “It’s a huge effort. So far we have managed to get over 5,000 people on to planes and in the last 14 hours alone we’ve managed to get a thousand people on their way. But there is still a huge amount of work to do.”
