By Ben Kerrigan-
The UK Parliament is being recalled from its summer recess on Wednesday to debate the situation in Afghanistan, in order to consider all the potential consequences of the latest take over of Kabul by the Taliban.
The mayhem and take over has potential ramifications on British citizens resident in Afghanistan, and the British government has asked British nationals to try and get out as quickly as possible.
MPs were previously not due to return until September 6, but the decision to recall parliament follows pressure from opposition parties and critics of government policy.
The decision was taken by the House of Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, after a request from the government, with the session beginning at 9.30am and ending at 2.30pm. Peers in the Lords will sit from 11am. ps are likely to discuss all aspects of how the dramatic developments in Afghanistan can affect the government, and plan all necessary steps to protect British interest.
The Commons was last recalled in April to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, but this is the first summer recall since 2013 when MPs debated Syria and the use of chemical weapons.
The decision on whether parliament should be recalled is taken by the speaker, and done “on the basis of representations made by ministers”. The Speaker has to decide whether it is in the public interest for MPs to return.
MPs are being encouraged to attend the recall, but it is not mandatory .
House Of Lords
The House of Lords, whose members include former defence chiefs and ministers involved in the deployment of British troops in 2001, will also meet at 1100 for a five-hour debate.
Peers will be able to contribute by video link, but not everybody believes there is any point on recalling parliament.
Conservative former Defence Minister Johnny Mercer told the Westminster Hour on BBC Radio 4: “Parliament’s being recalled. So what? The airport is under siege.
“Boris Johnson has said he doesn’t want Afghanistan to become a place for terrorism, it doesn’t mean anything to the families of those who lost their sons and daughters in this war.”
But Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds said there were urgent questions for ministers to answer over resettlement programmes for Afghans who had been left “to sink or swim.”
She added: “There most definitely is a point in Parliament being recalled, it’s been very disturbing that we have not seen a clear government response. We do need to have that session in Parliament.”
And the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, told Sky News he hoped the debate would help to “guide the UK government” and its approach to Nato and the United Nations.