Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil has today (Tuesday) added his name to a cross-party letter to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, urging the UK Government to play its full part in providing a compassionate and responsible response to those seeking safety from Afghanistan.
Mr MacNeil has been contacted by a large number of constituents expressing huge concerns for the people of Afghanistan and also for British nationals and their families working in Afghanistan as the Taliban takeover continues.
Mr MacNeil has also written to the Home Secretary and the Foreign Office specifically on the issues raised with him by constituents.
He stressed that the UK must do all it can to support the people of Afghanistan.
He said:
“If military intervention is required, it should be done under the UN banner or a coalition of nations including those in that area.
“It should not be just Western intervention again.
“We’ve got a serious responsibility towards refugees, to those from Afghanistan and those that are here just now seeking asylum.
“We should be preparing for more refugees and also see if we can help Afghans displaced into other countries because of this.
“We also have to learn lessons from exactly what has happened here.
“The intervention 20 years ago was without any great plan and this withdrawal is also without any great plan.
“This is a rapidly changing situation and we have to make sure that Afghans are being supported as best we can.”
