German foreign minister, Heiko Maas, started a four-day sweep through countries bordering Afghanistan to secure their agreement to house refugees temporarily.
Where's Raab? 1/2
He faces MPs at select Cttee so maybe he's preparing for that?🤷♀️
Plenty of anons across press, examples:
Times: 'I think he is toast in the next reshuffle. It is a poorly led organisation w a control freak in charge who won't delegate anything. Officials are terrified of him.'
Times: Allies of Mr Raab hit back and said it is 'laughable' to try to pin all of the Government's Afghanistan-related failures on the Foreign Secretary.
Telegraph (anon minister): 'The diplomatic effort has been slightly flat-footed. We should have been further down this road..
..by now. There's a big job of work to be done in the region and it's frustrating it's not more advanced.'
Telegraph ( senior Tory): the Foreign Office is 'seen as a basket case'.
Wintour tweeted one possibility : ' someone in the centre gunning for him'
On a serious note, now
It's rather telling that a former ARAP stranded in Kabul is pinning everything on Germany. Another moving interview on R4 just now:
Radio 4 PM just now. Phone interview with an ARAP qualified interpreter trapped in Kabul, couldn't get to airport gates. Has had to moving from house-to-house with his wife, hiding and living in tent. Trying FCOD helpline for 3 hrs - on hold. Only received a generic email 1/2
2/2 on the day after the suicide bomber explosion, from FCOD saying that they could not help ARAPs inside Afg. The interp explains that it's hard to find shelter as hosts are also afraid. He can't get to the border. His last hope is Germany's deal w Pakistan for safe passage
I appreciate that you cannot name him @BBCPM but as R4 is following & return-calling many of these desperate people every day ( great), but can't you use a pseudonym with consent?
Hard to track, bit dehumanising, makes them feel rather invisible
Mishal Hussein on R4Today now asking about this to Cleverly in reply to his comment (wtte 'we'll get the remaining pple out via neighbouring countries like Pakistan )
Cleverly: Raab isn't the only minister resp for calls. ( JC then refers to Lord Ahmed)
Major Gen Charlie Herbert, who undertook 3 tours of Afghanistan 2007-18, said: “It is almost impossible to believe that the PM departed on holiday on Saturday; he should hang his head in shame. It is dereliction of duty on an extraordinary scale. " theguardian.com/politics/2021/…
Adm Lord West, former first sea lord & chief of naval staff, said that chiefs of staff would have warned UK Gvt that collapse was close and “...in view of that I find the prime minister’s decision to go on holiday surprising. I also find the foreign secretary’s absence baffling
@harrytlambert I've been tweeting this since the story broke but different point. His first claim was travelling for childcare w parents. Naturally with a sick uncle, one wouldn't risk asymptomatic child w an elderly mum who would already be concerned about the virus via her brother. 1/2
@harrytlambert I thought it odd that DC would involve his mum in this cover story because of the sensitivities around the maternal uncle then dying- but no. The initial cover story then had those kinks ironed out- was then adapted to sister & niece providing childcare. I checked the timeline
@harrytlambert and then MWakefield's audio blog which I'd first heard live on R4. As well as the contradictions and evasions - no mention of uncle dying on 5th April. Odd - assumed maybe not close. Now look at the timeline for 5th April - Abba's Dancing Queen at full blast but family mourning?
No 10 issues new edict today '....memo’s opening sentence says “Brexit is completed. So do not use the term ‘Brexit’, save as a historical event that took place on 31 January 2020”
2/ 'Do not use phrases such as ‘deal/no deal’ nor 'deep' or 'special' partnership. Stick to the phrase ‘friendly cooperation between sovereign equals’
3/ 'Do not give the impression that we are seeking a unique or novel agreement. Stress that we are looking for a deal based on EU precedent. Be specific about what you mean when talking about migration”, and gives examples such as tourism or “immigration to live or work