Workington MP on Biden's "abandonment" of Afghan forces

The UK Government launched a “bespoke resettlement scheme” for Afghanistan refugees fleeing violence from Taliban forces this week.

The PM has received pressure from political figures to step up aid to Afghanistan.

Mr Johnson’s resettlement scheme will offer refuge to 5,000 Afghan nationals who are at risk.

Those most at risk of human rights abuses by the Taliban including women and girls, religious and other minorities are set to be given priority.

Speaking after attending the debate in Parliament on Wednesday, MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson said: “I’ve been very vocal about our intervention but the fact is this isn’t about whether we should have gone in 20 years ago it’s about the responsibility we now have.

I said the scenes in Afghanistan are “awful”.

Mr Jenkinson said: “I didn’t expect to be debating it.”

Speaking of the recent rise of the Taliban and what it means for the west he said: “It has the potential to make us all less safe that’s what we’ve all got to remember and I hope that doesn’t come to pass but that’s what we’ve got to remember.”

US President Joe Biden has been heavily criticised for withdrawing troops after the latest advancement of Taliban forces, Mr Jenkinson said: “To watch Biden blame Afghan forces was galling.

“It feels like an abandonment and it will go down in history as a huge foreign policy failure.”

Former Penrith and the Borders MP Rory Stewart has been vocal about the issue on social media.

He said: “US, UK and others must not rush to cut aid and impose sanctions. Millions of Afghans depend on international developments assistance for health, education and livelihoods.

He said: “General sanctions would be devastating for ordinary lives and have little impact on the Taliban.”

Spokesperson for the UK Government said yesterday that work is taking place “at pace” to evacuate British nationals in Afghanistan.