“This failure of leadership has put lives at risk” - Lisa Nandy responds to reports of Cabinet splits over Afghanistan

“The failure to prepare for the safe and swift evacuation of British nationals, support staff and the Afghans who worked alongside us is catastrophic.

“Days after evacuations began, there is still no clear strategy in place. The FCDO’s Rapid Deployment Team still hasn’t arrived in Kabul, leaving British soldiers and a small diplomatic team on the ground to work under incredibly difficult conditions. This effort demands tight cross-government coordination, but unbelievably key departments are now at loggerheads.

“The Foreign Secretary has serious questions to answer about his department’s lack of preparedness for the tragic situation now unfolding in front of our eyes. Instead of prolonging his summer holiday, Dominic Raab should have been back in Westminster coordinating efforts to ensure thousands of British and Afghan staff were brought safely back to the UK.

“This failure of leadership has put lives at risk. The Government has just hours to put this right.”