With nick robinson. A national tragedy, shameful, a staggering failure. Britains biggest foreign Policy Disaster since suez. That is how my guest has described our Withdrawal from afghanistan. He is a former Soldier And Adviser to the government, former adviser to the chief of defence staff. It is now chair of a foreign Affairs Committee at the House Of Commons and this is the series in which i have conversations With, not interrogations of, those who shape our political thinking about what shapes theirs. Their backgrounds, their lives, beyond politics. It was precisely that which led mps to listen to him in total silence as he spoke in the commons Others struggle With anger, Grief And Rage as he watched events unfold in kabul. I Grief And Rage as he watched events unfold in kabul. Unfold in kabul. I been to funerals across the unfold in kabul. I been to funerals across the world unfold in kabul. I been to funerals across the world and unfold in kabul. I been to funerals across the world and watched unfold in kabul. I been to funerals across the world and watched goodman go into the earth taken With them a part of me and a part of all of us. Make good men. The speakers torn open some of those winds. Left them raw and left us all hurting. Raw and left us all hurting. Welcome to politicalthinking. Raw and left us all hurting. Welcome to politicalthinking. Nice raw and left us all hurting. Welcome to political thinking. Nice to raw and left us all hurting. Welcome to politicalthinking. Nice to see. I to politicalthinking. Nice to see. Have ou to politicalthinking. Nice to see. Have you had to politicalthinking. Nice to see. Have you had much to politicalthinking. Nice to see. Have you had much sleep to politicalthinking. Nice to see. Have you had much sleep since i to politicalthinking. Nice to see. Have you had much sleep since those events . I have you had much sleep since those events . ,. ,. ~. , ,. , events . I have a track on my phone and either events . I have a track on my phone and either dismiss events . I have a track on my phone and either dismiss the events . I have a track on my phone and either dismiss the pentagon events . I have a track on my Phone L and either dismiss the pentagon from and either dismiss the pentagon from an average of seven and half hours to three orfour an average of seven and half hours to three or four hours on average for the last three weeks and it feels a bit like being back on ops, actually. There is a network of retired officers and soldiers trying to help those we know are in such desperate need and so it has been pretty full on. You desperate need and so it has been pretty full om desperate need and so it has been pretty full on. You must be getting texts and emails, pretty full on. You must be getting texts and emails, messages pretty full on. You must be getting i texts and emails, messages saying, texts and e mails, messages saying, get Me Out. Help texts and emails, messages saying, get Me Out help get Me Out. Help yes. I got a Phone Call at 2am get Me Out. Help yes. I got a Phone Call at 2am this get Me Out. Help yes. I got a Phone Call at 2am this morning get Me Out. Help yes. I got a Phone Call at 2am this morning from get Me Out. Help yes. I got a Phone Call at 2am this morning from a call at 2am this morning from a group of individuals who are stuck at a border and these are not people i know but somehow they got my number and i know but somehow they got my numberand said, get i know but somehow they got my number and said, get Me Out. Open the border. And i had to explain to them, i cant. The border. And i had to explain to them, ican� t. I the border. And i had to explain to them, i cant. I can order the Border Guards to do that. I dont have that Authority And I Cant Order the embassy to give them papers. The Home Office has a say. The Security Services have a say in the Foreign Secretary has a save. All these decisions, i can push but he cantjust give an order. And, you know, its. I mean, as the old line goes, i used to say, go and they went and i said, and they came. But now i shout like a Voice In The Wilderness. But now i shout like a Voice In The Wilderness wilderness. That is the big difference wilderness. That is the big difference about wilderness. That is the big difference about being wilderness. That is the big difference about being a i wilderness. That is the big difference about being a soldier now a politician and a Backbench Politician can force anything to happen. You feel a sort of responsibility . That you owe these people . Responsibility . That you owe these eole . , , responsibility . That you owe these eole . , ,. ,. , people . Yes. Deeply personal. You know, people . Yes. Deeply personal. You know. These people . Yes. Deeply personal. You know, these are people . Yes. Deeply personal. You know, these are people people . Yes. Deeply personal. You know, these are people i people . Yes. Deeply personal. You know, these are people i fought. Know, these are people i fought With. These are people who risked everything alongside me and Others and even though they dont know, i know who they fought With. I know them. These are in foreigners. These are. You know. Much more. find them. These are in foreigners. These are. You know. Much more. Are. You know. Much more. And is that why you are. You know. Much more. And is that why you talked are. You know. Much more. And is that why you talked so are. You know. Much more. And is that why you talked so movingly . It| that why you talked so movingly . It was clear you will move let alone people watching you in the House Of Commons and to you . About Shame And Anger and grief. Yes. Commons and to you . About Shame And Anger and Grief Anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funn , i anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funny. I have anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funny, i have spoken anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funny, i have spoken to anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funny, i have spoken to a anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funny, i have spoken to a Lot Anger and grief. Yes. I mean. Its funny, i have spoken to a lot of funny, i have spoken to a lot of veterans recently, for obvious reasons, and a lot of people after i made that speech have got in touch. Quite literally thousands from the united states, the uk and other countries. And the feeling of shame is pretty universal. Its. Its really striking to me. For me, it was almost therapeutic. Youre not alone. You say these things in the wilderness and you have no idea whether or not they are going to find echoes and what struck me is how many of us feel the same. Serving officers, retired officers, serving soldiers, retired soldiers was a american, french, you name it. You talked about watching good men go into the earth taking With them a part of me, but of all of us. And it could have been up the telephone tried more than once to kill you. You, they did. It could have been. It wasnt. � ,. ,. ,. , it wasnt. And indeed, people around ou were it wasnt. And indeed, people around you were killed it wasnt. And indeed, people around you were killed and it wasnt. And indeed, people around you were killed and the it wasnt. And indeed, people around you were killed and the taliban you were killed and the taliban tried to assassinate you. Tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost. Tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost a tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost a lot tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost. A lot a tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost. A lot a few tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost. A lot a few people. Tried to assassinate you. Yes. I lost. A lot a few people. I tried to assassinate you. Yes. I i lost. A lot a few people. I want to ask the lost. A lot a few people. I want to ask the difficult lost. A lot a few people. I want to ask the difficult question. Lost. A lot a few people. I want to ask the difficult question. Are | to ask the difficult question. Are you to close . Does all this mean that you speak With passion, you speak With authority. We should listen. But some would say, he is too close to this. It is to personal. Youll make it as a fair question. I can understand that question. I can understand that question. But i too close to the nhs because i rely on it . Absolutely. The protection of my family. Am i too close to the Welfare Policies in the united kingdom because i rely on it . , ,. , the united kingdom because i rely on it . Completely. For the protection of my family. It . Completely. For the protection of my family. My it . Completely. For the protection of my family, my Friends It . Completely. For the protection of my family, my friends might. It . Completely. For the protection. Of my family, my friends might rely one. Those people i served With. Many people i know rely on. I too close to the transport policies that we vote for because i and many other people rely on Notjust The Train to valentine that also the change from, you know, at which a green energy of whatever it is. I mean, you know, the nature of democratic politics, if you have a democracy, is that you have got people who are, by definition, close to this. And if you dont, what youre actually voting for us aristocracy. People who are remote, who are separate. I accept what you are saying and i constantly need to ask myself, i constantly need to ask myself, i constantly do ask myself, am i wrong . Have i over invested . By throwing good money after bad . I am Intriaued B throwing good money after bad . I am intrigued by you throwing good money after bad . I am intrigued by you saying that you have had to ask yourself, even With so little sleep and in the heat of things, whether you got it wrong . I5 things, whether you got it wrong . Is there a possibility that the argument that was made by many years ijy argument that was made by many years by many people that afghanistan could never be quelled. We could never be governed safely and securely. That they were always fight for 20 years . I dont buy that in the history of afghanistan suggest that isnt so. There were long periods when afghanistan was governed peacefully. Under the late king and his father. Many people, know whether you did it. Did the Hippie Trail. Ida. Know whether you did it. Did the Hippie Trail know whether you did it. Did the hi ie trail. ,. ,. , , Hippie Trail. No. That will not come as a hue Hippie Trail. No. That will not come as a huge revelation Hippie Trail. No. That will not come as a huge revelation to Hippie Trail. No. That will not come as a huge revelation to people. Hippie trail. No. That will not come as a huge revelation to people. I i as a huge revelation to people. I dont suppose they had Manchester United Fan Shops in afghanistan. They probably do now. You know, it was a well governed, peaceful place, you know, women and girls went to school and university. You know. It was a pretty uninteresting and relatively prosperous town, country. The main argument it seems Thatjoe Biden is making us president is, look, the Status Quo was not really an option. The idea that you have promoted, the idea that Tony Blair has promoted, which is, why notjust Carry On for a couple of thousand troops, almost no casualties for several years, just keep going, was unrealistic, because the taliban would have seen that as a Declaration Of War after the 20th anniversary of 9 11. Given that Donald Trump had made a deal to get out. Given Thatjoe Biden was known as a politician who promised the american people he would get out. So there was only one option to get out or to reinforce possibly and sending more troops. I or to reinforce possibly and sending more troops more troops. I dont buy that. I do bu , of more troops. I dont buy that. I do buy. Of course. More troops. I dont buy that. I do buy, of course, that more troops. I dont buy that. I do buy, of course, that this more troops. I dont buy that. I do buy, of course, that this was more troops. I dont buy that. I do buy, of course, that this was very | buy, of course, that this was very well signposted in advance as you rightly say. Just biden but also trump and actually also obama who set the deadline, the first Departure Date when he did the Surge Way back when. You are right. This was very clearly signposted and that does not mean it is right. If you look at the Troop Numbers. You say it is a serious Troop Commitment. Look, you know, one soldier in a country can be a serious Troop Commitment depending on what theyre doing. In this case was to have thousand us troops. That is about how the crew of a us aircraft carrier. I mean,. How the crew of a us aircraft carrier. I mean,. And the biden oint, carrier. I mean,. And the biden point. Surely. Carrier. I mean,. And the biden point, surely, and carrier. I mean,. And the biden point, surely, and youve carrier. I mean,. And the biden point, surely, and youve spoken| carrier. I mean,. And the biden i point, surely, and youve spoken to lots people in dc to try get your mind about what is in his mind, the biden argument seems to be at was not going to stay to have thousand. If he had said, we are staying, the taliban would have said, thats fine. Were going to take your troops and we will take british troops and we will take british troops and we will take british troops and you will then be forced to send many more people. That is assumin to send many more people. That is assuming that to send many more people. That is assuming that british to send many more people. That is assuming that british troops to send many more people. That is assuming that british troops and i assuming that british troops and american troops are doing the kind of operations that will allow that to happen. That simply not so. The afghan armed forces, whether they be police or afghan national army, were the ones conducting the operation. Were doing was we were doing the enablement. So, you know, sporting the air movements. Supporting and supporting logistics. And all that was being done by basically to relatively isolated as a basis in kandahar and another With huge amount of Stand Off and With thousands of contractors who would only stay if the us state. So, you know, that is not. That is not a valid argument. Id make the other bike meant you have made and Others have made which biden took on specifically when he spoke to the nation a few days ago, is the idea that this is like courier. Orators like after World War ii. The idea that we could stay for decades and With far higher Troop Numbers that we have in afghanistan. Theyre saying, no, they were no longer hot. They were over. Really . You say that South Korea in the early 70s was no longer a hot wall. I think there are plenty people who would disagree, looking at what was going on across the other side and really wonder whether that was so and you would have looked at the South Korea that the government at that time and you would have said, this is a basket case. It is run by military dictators, its economy is below that of afghanistan. Will it ever rise again . Will that ever prosper . Now look at it. It is one of the worlds great economies, one of the world for the great democracy. As exporting notjust, you know, because of the industrial world that actually culture, innovation, science. It is an extraordinary success story, South Korea. There will be people success story, South Korea. There will be people watching success story, South Korea. There will be people watching and will be people watching and listening saying, you could say that by dozens of countries. flit Listening saying, you could say that by dozens of countries. By dozens of countries. Of course ou by dozens of countries. Of course you could by dozens of countries. Of course you could we by dozens of countries. Of course you could. We dont by dozens of countries. Of course you could. We dont invade by dozens of countries. Of course | you could. We dont invade there. By dozens of countries. Of course you could. We dont invade there. We dont occupy you could. We dont invade there. We dont occupy there. You could. We dont invade there. We dont occupy there. We you could. We dont invade there. We dont occupy there. We dont you could. We dont invade there. We dont occupy there. We dont put you could. We dont invade there. We dont occupy there. We dont put our| dont occupy there. We dont put our way there. I afghanistan . In the mag because that is when 9 11 happened. You dont choose history. History chooses you. More people were killed from these islands and that single incident than any other terrorist incident. You know, this was a moment when globalisation came to bite us and it came from there and we had a not have to react but we did. The only time we have done the All For One And one for article five pledge. And we stood together and we did it. And so, you know, we do not have to do it but we were there and we were not anywhere else. Do not have to deal With the fact that president democrat, argued against this and has got his way. That the republicans largely agree With him even though they criticised the way he has done it. What does this mean With our relationship With the united states . Describing america as a line which wants to sleep quietly in its bed. What did you mean . I mean. I mean, america is one of the most extraordinary achievements of humanity. It has managed to harness, through a deal is, ideas and innovations and cultures and people from around the into an extraordinary republic. And that has given It Strength beyond anybody� s imagining in cultural, military, economic terms. It is extraordinary but, but, as you rightly say, as the. The song goes from Sea To Shining sea, it has the extraordinary luxury of having two gradations on either side and to neighbours who are broadly speaking extremely friendly. That is a luxury that allows some people to have the illusion that they can sleep quietly in their beds Without thinking about Others. But in their beds Without thinking about Others. �. , ,. ,. , Others. But does this mean that we have to relocate Others. But does this mean that we have to relocate the Others. But does this mean that we have to relocate the whole Others. But does this mean that we have to relocate the whole of Others. But does this mean that we have to relocate the whole of our. Have to relocate the whole of our Foreign Policy based on that close relationship With the united states pretty much since World War ii and church . It pretty much since World War ii and church . ,. ,. ,. , church . It does mean you have to look again church . It does mean you have to look again but church . It does mean you have to look again but i church . It does mean you have to look again but i dont church . It does mean you have to look again but i dont think church . It does mean you have to look again but i dont think we look again but i dont think we should delude ourselves, you know, and be defeatist into american isolationism. It is not isolationism but it is certainly a moment where america, rightly say, underthe but it is certainly a moment where america, rightly say, under the last three president s, and ashley, had not been for 911, under the last Board President would have had a roughly similar trajectory of gradually Withdraw from the world. Wait by the conventional wisdom is that the politicians have messed it up that the politicians have messed it up and partly because there are such sympathy and such empathy With soldiers and former soldiers like yourself people are not critical of the military. I5 yourself people are not critical of the military the military. Is it reasonable to sa that the military. Is it reasonable to say that actually, the military. Is it reasonable to say that actually, the the military. Is it reasonable to say that actually, the british i say that actually, the british military lost . They lost in southern iraq. They did not succeed in libya, they did not succeed in syria. There has not a Real British Military Success for an awfully long time . I mean. Im not going to tell you there were no military mistakes. There were plenty. And i can start. Start at the top and work down, if you like. Ive got to be honest. Im guilty plenty of mistakes myself. Which, you know, i have to live With. Have to live With. Military mistakes. Have to live With. Military mistakes, you have to live With. Military mistakes, you mean . Have to live With. Military mistakes, you mean . Decisions have to live With. Military mistakes, you mean . Decisions attic that were wrong. Mistakes, you mean . Decisions attic that were wrong. And mistakes, you mean . Decisions attic that were wrong. And mistakes mistakes, you mean . Decisions attic that were wrong. And mistakes have| that were wrong. And mistakes have consequences. That were wrong. And mistakes have consequences consequences. Ones you live With, ou will consequences. Ones you live With, you will revisit . Consequences. Ones you live With, you will revisit . Im consequences. Ones you live With, you will revisit . Im not consequences. Ones you live With, you will revisit . Im not one consequences. Ones you live With, you will revisit . Im not one to you will revisit . Im not one to sort of dwell you will revisit . Im not one to sort of Dwell In you will revisit . Im not one to sort of Dwell In the you will revisit . Im not one to sort of Dwell In the past you will revisit . Im not one to sort of Dwell In the past but, i you will revisit . Im not one to sort of Dwell In the past but, yeah, im conscious of my errors. Im conscious of my errors. There are some im conscious of my errors. There are some people im conscious of my errors. There are some people who im conscious of my errors. There are some people who say, im conscious of my errors. There are some people who say, it im conscious of my errors. There i are some people who say, it should have been obvious then. It was potentially obvious before then. But there here. Effectively a deal would have to be done With the taliban. You say that. I keep saying here this line there is no Military Solution. What you think the taliban have just done . A solution. What you think the taliban havejust done . A Military Solution. What you think the taliban have just done . A Military Solution. They invaded kabul. It is done. That is the Military Solution. What you are not willing to say is that there was another Military Solution which was another Military Solution which was to support a very, very slow peace building operation. What they are going to do as they are going to do the reverse of what we did. They are going to say, going to stay aligned, as long as it takes, to build an islamic emirate. And we will use force. And we will use violence. To make sure that you comply until it is so second nature we dont need to any more. 55 comply until it is so second nature we dont need to any more. As long as it takes we dont need to any more. As long as it takes is we dont need to any more. As long as it takes is interesting we dont need to any more. As long as it takes is interesting because i as it takes is interesting because in your speech in the House Of Commons, you talked again and again about patients. Is that in the round . Is that what you think is missing in Western Democracy . A willingness to do this for ten, 20, 30, 40 willingness to do this for ten, 20, 30, a0 years . Willingness to do this for ten, 20, 30, 40 years . 30, 40 years . This is the south Korea Point 30, 40 years . This is the south Korea Point. The 30, 40 years . This is the south Korea Point. The cypress 30, 40 years . This is the south Korea Point. The cypress point. | 30, 40 years . This is the south. Korea point. The cypress point. We have had troops on the ground in cyprus since the 60s given that green line, that un operation, those two warring parties and peaceful. You know, is that a Forever War . No, its not. It is a forever piece. The piece takes piece takes investment, takes time, takes the same way as, you know, you would not have described having policemen on the streets a forever right. You would call it policing. You would call that keeping the peace and thats what it is in our troops werent even doing that. They were supporting Others. Even doing that. They were supporting Others. This was the first test of supporting Others. This was the first test of a supporting Others. This was the first test of a phrase supporting Others. This was the first test of a phrase which supporting Others. This was the j first test of a phrase which you, supporting Others. This was the i first test of a phrase which you, on the select committee, raise the odd eyebrow. Global britain. I was a booking now . I eyebrow. Global britain. Iwas a booking now . Eyebrow. Global britain. Iwas a booking now . I dont obect to the hrase i booking now . I dont obect to the Phrase Trust Booking now . I dont obect to the phrase i just dont i booking now . I dont object to the phrase i just dont know booking now . I dont object to the phrase i just dont know what i booking now . I dont object to the phrase i just dont know what it i Phrase Ijust dont know what it means. There is nothing wrong With that phrase. Fine. But. But what is behind it . Is behind it . What do you fear it means . Well, is behind it . What do you fear it means . Well, i is behind it . What do you fear it means . Well, i dont is behind it . What do you fear it means . Well, i dont fear is behind it . What do you fear it means . Well, i dont fear it i is behind it . What do you fear it i means . Well, i dont fear it means an hina. Means . Well, i dont fear it means anything i means . Well, i dont fear it means anything i just means . Well, i dont fear it means anything. I just dont means . Well, i dont fear it means anything. Ijust dont know means . Well, i dont fear it means anything. I just dont know what i means . Well, i dont fear it means anything. I just dont know what it | anything. Ijust dont know what it means. The first attempt at it, explaining it, is the Integration Review which is a very good document. Review which is a very good Document Review which is a very good document. ~. ,. ,. , document. Military and security oli. Document. Military and Security Policy and document. Military and Security Policy. And mentions document. Military and Security Policy. And mentions the i document. Military and security i policy. And mentions the educational women and girls policy. And mentions the educational women and girls as policy. And mentions the educational women and girls as a policy. And mentions the educational women and girls as a priority. Women and girls as a priority. Mention afghanistan twice and the single biggest reversal in the ability to educate women and girls of The Fall of afghanistan. Of The Fall of afghanistan. Global britain is not of The Fall of afghanistan. Global britain is not quite of The Fall of afghanistan. Global britain is not quite working. I of The Fall of afghanistan. Global| britain is not quite working. What about the Foreign Office as an institution. Yourfrustration is evident in everything you have said. What is going wrong With the Foreign Office . �. What is going wrong With the Foreign Office . � ,. ,. , what is going wrong With the Foreign Office . � ,. , office . Thats a really good Question Office . Thats a really good question because office . Thats a really good question because It Office . Thats a really good question because it is i office . Thats a really good question because it is quitej office . Thats a really good i question because it is quite clear that, you know, you lift up the bonnet of the Rolls Royce and not sure what the engineers but wasnt made in coventry. To use your analogy they may be wearing Red Shirts With are not your team. That shirts With are not your team. At the even in the Premier League . I can most high commissioners and ambassadors and. Extraordinarily capable diplomats who are genuinely World Class and fantastic but when you see secure documents of other personal information left in the embassy in kabul, when you see the Senior Civil Servant remain on holiday at the moment of extraordinary Foreign Policy crisis, you wonder, what matters to you. What is it that drives you . I mean, if you will forgive me, politicians, most politicians, have entered do is make dedicated 30 years of their lives to a single institution said to me what is more shocking is the pos. The senior official. Can you imagine. Can you imagine . In a battle. The general not coming back . I mean, it is unthinkable . It is completely unthinkable. In Fact Voltaire made a joke about it. I dont know if you remember. Amid voltaire made ajoke about it. I dont know if you remember. Amid a oke but dont know if you remember. Amid a joke but unroll dont know if you remember. Amid a joke but unroll being dont know if you remember. Amid a joke but unroll being in dont know if you remember. Amid a joke but unroll being in 1760, joke but unroll being in 1760, wasnt it . You didnt show enough guts when fighting the french and i think he was hanged at a Port And Thejoke voltaire said think he was hanged at a port and the Joke Voltaire said was. To encourage the Others. If that applies to the top civil servant in the Foreign Office than the applies to the Foreign Secretary as well. We were all to the Foreign Secretary as well. Were all in holiday on august and when this happened camino, that was it. I was doing 20 hour days. There was a sense. It. I was doing 20 hour days. There was a sense, somehow, it. I was doing 20 hour days. There was a sense, somehow, that i it. I was doing 20 hour days. There was a sense, somehow, that this i it. I was doing 20 hour days. There| was a sense, somehow, that this is personal between you and Dominic Rob. It was heard was applause at the end of your speech and when he wound up the debate it is traditionalfor wound up the debate it is traditional for ministers to praise. Not a word. Lots of other people were. I not a word. Lots of other people were,. ,. ,. , not a word. Lots of other people were. ,. ,. , not a word. Lots of other people were. ,. ,. , were. I apologised i was not going to be there were. I apologised i was not going to be there for were. I apologised i was not going to be there for the were. I apologised i was not going to be there for the wind were. I apologised i was not going to be there for the wind up were. I apologised i was not going to be there for the wind up so i were. I apologised i was not going to be there for the wind up so he l to be there for the wind up so he knew i going to be there. I dont think it is personal. As you know, ive given it pretty hard time to three foreign secretaries now. I hope am respectful of the office and the individuals. I had to say, i think Dominic Rob is a highly intelligent man who has demonstrated some very good judgment in some areas and, you know, in other areas, it is myjob to challenge him. And if there were not that Challenge Function that will be good for democracy. Function that will be good for Democracy Function that will be good for democra. ,. ,. , democracy. You mentioned you challen. E democracy. You mentioned you challenge previous democracy. You mentioned you challenge previous foreign i challenge previous foreign secretaries not least borisjohnson when you clashed repeatedly. You once said something very interesting which is humour does not translate in Foreign Policy. Which is humour does not translate in Foreign Policy in Foreign Policy. Trust me, ive tried it. In Foreign Policy. Trust me, ive tried it it in Foreign Policy. Trust me, ive tried it. It doesnt. In Foreign Policy. Trust me, ive tried it. It doesnt. Do in Foreign Policy. Trust me, ive tried it. It doesnt. Do me i tried it. It doesnt. Do me literally . Tried it. It doesnt. Do me literally . The tried it. It doesnt. Do me literally . The words i tried it. It doesnt. Do me literally . The words are i tried it. It doesnt. Do me i literally . The words are not tried it. It doesnt. Do me literally . The words are not there . Because you were a speaker of how many languages . Many languages . 607. It ust doesnt. Trust i many languages . 607. It ust doesnt. Trust me i many languages . 607. It ust doesnt. Trust me on i many languages . 607. It ust doesnt. Trust me on thisi many languages . 607. Itjust| doesnt. Trust me on this one. Many languages . 607. Itjust i doesnt. Trust me on this one. A Boris Gag gets a smile from people who dont like him as well as people who dont like him as well as people who do. It may work in that way to reduce tension at home but not abroad . �. , reduce tension at home but not abroad . 1,. ,. ,. , abroad . Boris has a remarkable abili to abroad . Boris has a remarkable ability to communicate abroad . Boris has a remarkable ability to communicate in i abroad . Boris has a remarkable ability to communicate in the i abroad . Boris has a remarkable I Ability to communicate in the united kingdom. It is really quite phenomenal. In a way he is a political alchemist and he is a fantastic ability to get a message across, to carry an image that sticks With people and gets people behind him but the reality is, Lyme Regis Work differently. Coaches work differently and it is really hard to translate a joke. You speak of the Ocean Lyme Regis would have you a lot of time abroad. And i think there will be some people lifting there will be some people lifting the limit listening think, why is he not in the government . The limit listening think, why is he not in the government . Politics are ersonal. Not in the government . Politics are personal you not in the government . Politics are personal. You need not in the government . Politics are personal. You need to not in the government . Politics are personal. You need to get not in the government . Politics are personal. You need to get on i not in the government . Politics are personal. You need to get on With i personal. You need to get on With the people who are around you . Me the people who are around you . We aet the people who are around you . Get on perfectly well when we see Each Other. We have actually been texting Each Other and quite closely over the crisis and i have to say, im not going to say that i think everything has gone brilliantly. You know i dont think that. But i have to say, there are some really impressive moments of Response And Decision making by the government that have resulted in a significantly better outcome than might have been the case, you know, many of the spirit, a few weeks ago. Im not universally critical. Critical on the areas where i am, you know, charged by parliament to run the Challenge Function. Just you know, charged by parliament to run the Challenge Function. Run the Challenge Function. Just per second they run the Challenge Function. Just per second they looked run the Challenge Function. Just per second they looked as run the Challenge Function. Just per second they looked as if run the Challenge Function. Just per second they looked as if you run the Challenge Function. Just per second they looked as if you are i second they looked as if you are like to say borisjohnson did a good and you can bring yourself to do it. The thing. And you can bring yourself to do it. The thing and you can bring yourself to do it. Thethinu. , ~ , the thing. You think he has messed it u , the thing. You think he has messed it up. Dont the thing. You think he has messed it up. Dont you . The thing. You think he has messed it up, dont you . He the thing. You think he has messed it up, dont you . He has the thing. You think he has messed it up, dont you . He has done the thing. You think he has messed it up, dont you . He has done a i the thing. You think he has messed it up, dont you . He has done a good| it up, dont you . He has done a good ob in it up, dont you . He has done a good job in some it up, dont you . He has done a good job in some areas. It up, dont you . He has done a good job in some areas. The it up, dont you . He has done a good job in some areas. The thing it up, dont you . He has done a good job in some areas. The thing is. I it up, dont you . He has done a good job in some areas. The thing is. The | job in some areas. The thing is. The problem i got With those questions in this role i have now. I am conservative and i believe in conservative and i believe in conservative values and a champ in them as best as i can. But myjob is not to be a cheerleader for the government because otherwise it compromises my ability to party and thejob i have is a chairman. The the job i have is a chairman. The fear i the job i have is a chairman. The fear i imagine the job i have is a chairman. The fear i imagine you the job i have is a chairman. The fear i imagine you have is that people will be about talking about afghanistan only think it is over. You have real hope that you can keep the attention of people under the government under the civil service on the people you still want to help . Youll make the reality is, afghanistan is over and we were defeated politically. But we were defeated politically. But we were defeated because we chose to walk away. So it is over. We are now into away. So it is over. We are now into a second phase which is, how would you potatoes best as we can those most vulnerable to revenge attacks because of them standing by in our hour of need. I dont think this government does weary of that, actually. This is, this is something im very proud of this government for. It turned around immediately and, you know can even argue With a 20,000 is the right number 30,000 is a right number but it did not argue With the principle was right. It never said, With the principle was right. It neversaid, no, no, we dont want foreigners. It immediate we said we have got a responsibility can british people demonstrated pretty clearly, certainly for me, a Level Desire to support afghans who are in need so i dont think it is going to be wearied of, in that sense, but i do think, i am afraid, it is over. Chair of the foreign Affairs Committee of the House Of Commons, thank you forjoining me on political thinking. Thank you forjoining me on political thinking. Politicalthinking. Thanks, nick. Airort a politicalthinking. Thanks, nick. Airport a suspicion politicalthinking. Thanks, nick. Airport a suspicion not politicalthinking. Thanks, nick. Airport a suspicion not even i politicalthinking. Thanks, nick. Airport a suspicion not even his| Airport A Suspicion not even his family, his friends as cheerleaders are waiting to hear whether he has got herjob and borisjohnsons government. Of course, that perhaps makes him even more powerful when he criticises them. Hes got nothing that he wants from them and very little that he fears. Thanks for watching. Hello. England and wales taking a turn for the brighter and warmer tomorrow. Scotland and Northern Ireland eventually seeing some rain, but it will take its time to move in. Overnight to western scotland, wales, western and southern parts of england, clear spells and a few Mist And Fog patches. Stays mostly cloudy elsewhere and from The Cloud in the western isles, some patchy rain later in the night, and temperatures holding for the most part around 10 14 degrees celsius. More in the way of sunshine on offer across england and wales tomorrow. Therell still be some areas of cloud around, particularly eastern england, perhaps into the midlands as well, but overall, a brighter day than its been. Some low cloud along the English Channel coast of Southwest England could make things rather grey into the afternoon. In the sunny spells, itll be a warmer day. Lows of mid 20s. Warmth in the sunny spells across southern and eastern scotland, staying dry here for most of the day. But With a Freshening Wind towards the west of scotland, outbreaks of rain moving in as the day goes on. Into Northern Ireland, too, and completing its progress across scotland and Northern Ireland into the evening. This is Bbc News With the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Pakistans Spy Chief visits kabul. What does it mean for the talibans yet to be announced government . Translation security is good all over the country. The people are happy but the lack of work and the Non Announcement of the government, thats worrying people. Meanwhile, the taliban claims its fighters are closing in on the last organised group defying them in the panjshir valley. Our other main headlines this hour the new Zealand Terror Attacker is named, amid reports hed tried tojoinajihadist group. Tuna stocks recover after years of over fishing, but the future of other species is still on the line