In a damning new report, Whitehall's spending watchdogs have laid bare the Ministry of Defence's 'confused' and 'chaotic' handling of a secretive multi-billion-pound Afghan airlift operation, first exposed by the Daily Mail.
The National Audit Office (NAO) has issued a scathing condemnation of the scheme, revealing that ministers quietly agreed to devote a staggering £7 billion of public money to the effort without any public announcement or explicit request for additional funds from the Treasury.
A Scheme Shrouded in Secrecy
The report highlights a profound lack of transparency, stating that the MOD's accounts for the 2021-22 period, during which the massive evacuation took place, failed to properly separate the costs of the Afghan airlift from other defence activities. This has made it nearly impossible for taxpayers to see how their money was spent.
This financial obfuscation meant the true cost of the operation remained hidden from public view until the Daily Mail's investigation brought it to light, prompting the NAO's probe.
'Not Value for Money'
The NAO's findings are unequivocal. The watchdog concluded that the MOD's approach did not represent value for money for the taxpayer. The report criticises the department's 'confused' accounting and its failure to seek proper, timely approval for the vast expenditure.
Furthermore, the NAO warned that the MOD's actions have set a dangerous precedent, demonstrating that government departments can sidestep established spending controls and bypass Parliamentary oversight by exploiting emergency procedures.
Fallout and Accountability
The report states that while the evacuation of over 15,000 people from Kabul as the city fell to the Taliban was an extraordinary effort, the financial management of the operation was severely lacking. The MOD has been accused of exploiting the 'urgent operational requirement' process to avoid normal Treasury spending approvals.
This scandal raises serious questions about accountability and the government's duty to be transparent with the public about how vast sums of their money are being allocated, especially on operations kept secret from the very people funding them.
