John Healey – 2021 Comments on Afghans in Danger

The comments made by John Healey, the Shadow Defence Secretary, on 21 August 2021.

Ministers were utterly unprepared for the US troop withdrawal and Taliban take-over. Labour fears we could see a tragic repeat at Kabul airport, if the US insist on a strict deadline for withdrawal without Britain’s agreement to evacuate safely all the Afghans we’ve pledged to help.

Ministers must show the strength of purpose and leadership that’s been missing in recent months. We know this is difficult and there’s no guarantee of success. Britain must pursue every option to save Afghans in danger and check Taliban actions.