Boris Johnson ordered evacuation of animals from Afghanistan, says new whistleblower

Boris Johnson instantly authorized the evacuation of cats and canines with Pen Farthing’s animal charity from Afghanistan, in line with a second authorities whistleblower.

Josie Stewart – a senior official on the International, Commonwealth and Growth Workplace (FCDO) – mentioned it was “widespread information” that the choice to assist Nowzad “got here from the prime minister”.

Mr Johnson has denied direct involvement within the evacuation of animals. However Ms Stewart backed up claims made by whistleblower Raphael Marshall – saying emails in her inbox referenced “the PM’s determination on Nowzad”.

Ms Stewart additionally alleged that senior civil servants had lied concerning the matter to the overseas affairs choose committee, as she supplied new, written proof to MPs on the committee.

She accused Sir Philip Barton, the International Workplace’s everlasting under-secretary, and Nigel Casey, the PM’s particular consultant for Afghanistan, of getting “deliberately lied” to the committee.

The whistleblower mentioned she “can not fathom” why they might accomplish that however that “they will need to have carried out so”, including: “I’ve tried to think about however can not conceive of any method this might have been an sincere mistake.”

Ms Stewart, who mentioned she beforehand leaked data, such was her concern concerning the dealing with of the Afghan disaster, mentioned she accepted that talking out would seemingly imply dropping her job.

She mentioned: “I really feel a powerful sense of ethical harm for having been a part of one thing so badly managed and so centered on managing reputational danger and political fallout somewhat than the precise disaster and related human tragedy.”

Ms Stewart mentioned she messages concerning the determination coming from the PM on Microsoft Groups, and “heard it mentioned within the disaster centre together with by senior civil servants”.

She additionally mentioned she was copied on quite a few emails “which clearly steered this” which no-one, together with Mr Casey, challenged.

In January MPs on the overseas affairs choose committee revealed an e-mail from a senior official referring to “the PM’s determination” on Nowzad, copied to Mr Casey.

Sir Philip apologised for “inadvertently inaccurate solutions”, stating that Mr Casey had been busy that day and didn’t keep in mind the e-mail.

The BBC later revealed additional emails exhibiting that Mr Casey wrote an e-mail about asking “Quantity 10” for enter on the case.

Ms Stewart informed MPs: “Nigel Casey explicitly testified that he had searched his emails and located nothing of relevance, but once I searched my emails for “PM” and “Nowzad” I discovered a couple of e-mail referencing “the PM’s determination on Nowzad” and with Nigel Casey in copy.”

The whistleblower added: “I can not fathom why both Philip Barton or Nigel Casey would have deliberately lied to the Committee, however I consider that they will need to have carried out so each within the letter dated 17 January and in the oral testimony given on 25 January.

“I’ve tried to think about however can not conceive of any method this might have been an sincere mistake.”

Ms Stewart mentioned she didn’t consider there was any deliberate determination “to prioritise animals over individuals” however that “the choice to approve Nowzad’s Afghan employees underneath LOTR (depart outdoors the principles) was not according to coverage”.

The whistleblower mentioned “there was no purpose to consider these individuals must be prioritised underneath the agreed standards”.

She mentioned though letters from Sir Philip and International Workplace minister Lord Ahmad have been “factually correct” once they mentioned “Nowzad employees have been included by officers within the potential cohorts to be thought of for evacuation if area turned accessible underneath LOTR”, she mentioned this was “deceptive”.

She informed the committee: “From what I heard and noticed, Nowzad employees have been included as a late addition solely in response to this ‘PM determination’. This occurred in opposition to the earlier judgment of officers.”

Ms Stewart added: “I don’t discover it credible that Philip Barton, or those that drafted his letter dated January 17 2022, wouldn’t have been conscious of this.”

In her written proof, launched on Monday, Ms Stewart additionally dismissed authorities claims that civil servants usually portrayed selections as coming from the PM if they didn’t.

International Workplace minister Lord Goldsmith had claimed within the Lords that: “It’s not unusual in Whitehall (…) for selections to be interpreted or portrayed as coming instantly from one division or one other and even the prime minister, even when that isn’t the case.”

She mentioned: “I’ve by no means in my profession seen any such factor. Governance would disintegrate solely if this have been the case.”

The Impartial has contacted the FCDO and Downing Road for a response.