Boris Johnson backs Foreign Office chief despite ‘disastrous’ Afghan evacuation 

The cross-party Foreign Affairs Committee demanded Sir Philip Barton considers his position in a scathing report. 

Boris Johnson has backed the top civil servant at the Foreign Office despite MPs demanding his resignation over “deep failures” during the Kabul evacuation.

The cross-party Foreign Affairs Committee demanded Sir Philip Barton considers his position in a scathing report on the UK’s “betrayal” of Afghan allies.

Sir Philip was accused of displaying a “determination to avoid unearthing the facts” during the inquiry into the “disaster” of the withdrawal as the Taliban seized power.

The Foreign Office’s top civil servant, permanent-under secretary Sir Philip Barton (House of Commons/PA)

Then-foreign secretary Dominic Raab and Sir Philip’s failures to return from holiday as Kabul fell last August marked a “fundamental lack of seriousness, grip or leadership”, the MPs said.

Leaders at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) were told to be “ashamed” that civil servants had to risk their careers by blowing the whistle to unearth the “appalling mismanagement of the crisis” as the Taliban swept to power. 

Downing Street disputed aspects of the report and said the Prime Minister retains full confidence in Sir Philip as FCDO permanent secretary.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also backs Sir Philip, the PA news agency was told.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We don’t agree with all of the conclusions that the committee has drawn on this.”

An RAF C-17A Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft, flown by 99 Squadron, landing at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire (Cpl Matty Matthews/MoD/PA)

Ministers were accused of having a “total absence of a plan” for Afghans who supported the British mission, despite knowing for 18 months that the evacuations may be necessary if the US withdrew its troops.

But the spokesman praised staff’s efforts during the evacuation and said there was “significant pre-planning before that”.

Asked if Mr Johnson retains confidence in Sir Philip, the spokesman said: “Yes.”