Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, John Healey, has launched a scathing attack on his Conservative counterpart, Ben Wallace, over the UK's handling of the Afghan evacuation in 2021. New evidence suggests hundreds of eligible Afghans were left behind due to systemic failures.
Systemic Failures Exposed
According to recently uncovered documents, the Ministry of Defence failed to act on multiple warnings about vulnerable Afghans who had worked with British forces. Many were subsequently hunted down by the Taliban after being denied evacuation.
Healey's Stern Rebuke
"The Defence Secretary must explain why these people were abandoned," Healey stated in Parliament. "We're talking about interpreters and other staff who risked their lives supporting our troops, only to be betrayed by bureaucratic incompetence."
Wallace Defends Ministry's Actions
In response, Wallace maintained that the government did "everything possible" in extremely challenging circumstances. However, internal emails reveal officials were overwhelmed and lacked clear processes to prioritise cases.
The Human Cost
Among those left behind was an interpreter who received 27 rejection emails before finally being approved - too late for evacuation. Several similar cases have emerged, painting a picture of a system in chaos during the Taliban takeover.
