[Animals] Carrie's friend Goldsmith says PM NOT involved in efforts to help airlift animal charity from Kabul

[FazzNoth]

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today denied approving a controversial airlift of animals from the collapse of Afghanistan as 'total rhubarb', as he faced renewed questions over his role and that of his wife Carrie.

The Prime Minister spoke out as he faced attacks over assistance offered to former soldier Paul Farthing and his Nowzad organisation as Kabul was abandoned to the Taliban.

Mr Johnson last year denied intervening after Nowzad contacted Mrs Johnson directly for help. But emails released yesterday showed that he did order official help to be directed to it. 

Lord Goldsmith, a Foreign Office minister and friend of Carrie Johnson, last night insisted that he did not discuss rescue efforts with the PM and appeared to try to apportion blame to senior officials in the Foreign Office who wrote the emails. 

And today, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Labour of 'fussing about a few animals' when the matter was raised in Parliament.

Mr Johnson's position was further weakened last night after it was revealed one of his top political aides tried to hire an aircraft to help get Nowzad out last August.

Trudy Harrison, who was then parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Mr Johnson, contacted a private charter company, with a source at the firm telling the broadcaster it was implicit that she was acting with the PM's backing.

Ms Harrison previously wrote to Mr Farthing, who ran the Nowzad shelter, to inform him the evacuation would go ahead.

She told Sky News on Wednesday that she had contacted companies, and had told staff she was a PPS to Mr Johnson, but that she was acting as a constituency MP and Mr Johnson was not involved in plans around the evacuation. 

Lord Goldsmith, a Foreign Office minister and friend of Carrie Johnson, last night insisted that the Prime Minister was not involved in efforts to help Paul Farthing and his Nowzad organisation flee Kabul.

Carrie was lobbied personally by members of Nowzad in order to get them and their animals out of Kabul in August

The Prime Minister has previously denied intervening to allow Paul 'Pen' Farthing and members of his Nawzad charity flee Kabul at the expense of locals as the extremists closed in last summer.

Trudy Harrison, who was then parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Mr Johnson, contacted a private charter company, with a source at the firm telling Sky it was implicit that she was acting with the PM's backing.

Ms Harrison previously wrote to Mr Farthing, who ran the Nowzad shelter, to inform him the evacuation would go ahead.

https://nation.lk/online/carrie-s-friend-goldsmith-says-pm-not-involved-in-efforts-to-help-airlift-animal-charity-from-kabul-169951.html