Our Special Forces colleagues deserve better, says Chris Naylor

200 Afghan special forces staff face imminent deportation to their Taliban-controlled homeland. These staff were trained and and funded by the UK, reports the BBC, but have been rejected by the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme - or are still awaiting a decision for more than a year. However, either way, Pakistan now says it will expel Afghan refugees including these personnel.

Chris Naylor, South Shropshire’s Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate said, "General Sir Richard Barron, who served in Afghanistan, condemns our failure to relocate these soldiers as a betrayal and a disgrace, and I completely agree. Our Special Forces colleagues deserve better. The Armed Forces Covenant must extend to foreign nationals who served with us, and we’re calling for a legal duty on Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to ensure the Covenant is upheld.”

"I supported the Lib Dem's new Armed Forces Policy proposed by ex-serviceman Richard Foord MP, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Defence, at our recent Bournemouth Conference - particularly the call to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant, our promise to treat the Armed Forces fairly and with respect."

Much Wenlock-based former Royal Navy officer - and past Lib Dem PPC - Grahame Hudson commented, "Former PM Boris Johnson promised in 2021 that the UK would do 'whatever it can' to get safe passage for these Afghan commandos. He acknowledged that their contribution had been ‘incredibly important’."

"As a former PM, shouldn’t he be picking up the phone to try to sort this - facing up to his responsibilities and honouring his commitment?”