Government will see through commitments to Afghan special forces, Mercer says

"This government will see through our commitments," Veterans' Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer has vowed amid speculation over the Triples' sanctuary in the UK after a reported government U-turn.

Mr Mercer posted to X, formerly Twitter, in response to the former Army Intelligence Corps officer and Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat who said: "We should never have left our comrades behind. ⁦Johnny Mercer has been working hard to turn this around."

The comments come after a Daily Mail report said that hundreds of Afghan soldiers who were denied relocation to the UK despite fighting with British forces are to be granted sanctuary by the government, although a Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson has said they "cannot comment on this speculation".

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The reported U-turn follows a joint news investigation that found dozens of personnel who served with The Triples had been beaten, tortured or killed by the Taliban since the withdrawal of Nato forces.

The Daily Mail's article reported that "ministers are expected to announce this week that the cases of at least 400 members of two elite units – known as the Triples – will be reviewed, with the majority likely to be allowed entry to Britain".

They are known as the Triples because the two units' full titles are the Afghan Commando Force 333 and the Afghan Territorial Force 444.

The units were set up, trained and funded by British forces, but fell under the control of the Afghan security forces, meaning they did not immediately qualify for the UK's ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) scheme.

An MOD spokesperson said: "We cannot comment on this speculation. We are honouring our commitment to those brave Afghans who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan and have been granted settled status.

"So far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety from Afghanistan, including over 15,200 people under the ARAP scheme, which is one of the most generous of any country, and thousands of Afghans eligible for our resettlement schemes."

Labour MP Luke Pollard called on the government to update MPs on the situation of the Afghan special forces soldiers following the tweets posted by Mr Mercer and Mr Tugendhat, highlighting in a letter to the MOD that "this is a different position than the one previously issued".

He called for "More clarity, less briefing please."

Mr Pollard added on X: "With a government u-turn on the Triples being briefed to the media, ministers should update the commons urgently. The triples served alongside UK forces and deserve better than uncertainty. It's time for proper clarity from ministers."

In December, Mr Mercer insisted that Afghan Special Forces veterans should be helped to resettle in the UK to prevent them from being persecuted by the Taliban.

The minister told the Commons at the time: "I... am clear where that criteria on the ARAP entitlement sits, I'm clear that the vast majority of these operators should fit within that criteria.

"If they meet that criteria and they deserve to be in the United Kingdom then I will do everything I can to get them here."