Don't deport the brave men and women who supported UK troops, ex-military figures say
In a plea to the British Government, former top military figures have urged ministers to exempt those who have fought alongside British troops overseas from deportation to Rwanda under its new scheme.
The letter, published in the Telegraph, underscores the debt owed to the "brave men and women" who stood alongside British troops overseas.
"As former service personnel and those with close connections to the Armed Forces, we have seen first-hand the enormous courage and dedication shown by the people who have fought alongside us and served British interests abroad, often at huge personal risk, and we take personally Britain's obligation to honour the debt we owe to that cohort," the letter reads.
The letter also criticises the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), launched in April 2021, which was intended to provide a lifeline for Afghan allies but has been marred by mismanagement, resulting in a significant backlog of applications.
And now those who have made it to the UK as refugees, are in danger of being deported to Rwanda before their applications have been processed.
The letter urges ministers to accept the amendment to the Safety of Rwanda Bill tabled by Lord Browne of Ladyton, emphasising the importance of honouring the Government's commitments to those who served alongside British troops abroad.
It warns that failing to do so would not only be a moral failure but also damage the ability to recruit local allies for future military operations.
This is the letter in full:
SIR – We urge ministers to exempt any brave men and women who have fought alongside our Armed Forces or served the British Government overseas from removal to Rwanda under its new scheme.
As former service personnel and those with close connections to the Armed Forces, we have seen first-hand the enormous courage and dedication shown by the people who have fought alongside us and served British interests abroad, often at huge personal risk, and we take personally Britain's obligation to honour the debt we owe to that cohort.
Since its launch in April 2021, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy has been mired by mismanagement. The scheme was intended to be a lifeline for brave Afghans who worked alongside British forces, but there is a huge backlog of applications.
Ministers are also having to look again at the applications of Afghan Special Forces that may have been wrongfully decided. All this leaves many individuals and their families in limbo and at the mercy of the Taliban.
As a result, some Afghans who worked alongside our Armed Forces have been forced to flee with their families.
It is essential that those who have made it to British shores are not unduly punished by being removed to Rwanda when the Government's scheme is up and running.
We therefore urge ministers to accept the amendment to the Safety of Rwanda Bill tabled by Lord Browne of Ladyton, and to honour the Government's promises to those who have courageously fought and served alongside our troops and personnel abroad.
Failure to do so would be a dereliction of our moral duty, and would do grave damage to our ability to recruit local allies in future military operations.
The letter was signed by:
- Lord Houghton of Richmond (Crossbench) - former Chief of Defence Staff
- Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale (Lab) - former Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and member of the Intelligence and Security Committee
- Lord Richards of Herstmonceux (Crossbench) - former Chief of Defence Staff
- Lord Dannatt (Crossbench) - former Chief of General Staff
- Lord Sedwill (Crossbench) - former National Security Adviser and Ambassador to Afghanistan
- Rory Stewart - former International Development Secretary
- Admiral Lord West of Spithead (Lab) - former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
- General Sir John McColl - former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe
- Professor Sara de Jong - University of York and Chair of Trustee Board of Sulha Alliance CIO
- Ash Alexander-Cooper - former specialist military unit colonel
- Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Lab) - former Secretary General of Nato
- Lord Craig of Radley (Crossbench) - former Marshal of the Royal Air Force
- Lord Ricketts (Crossbench) - former Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee and National Security Adviser
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