PM says claim he ordered pets airlift is ‘total rhubarb'

Boris Johnson has dismissed new evidence that he ordered the controversial evacuation of dogs and cats from Afghanistan for Pen Farthing’s Nowzad charity as “total rhubarb”.

- JON STONE, ADAM FORREST

Emails showing that offiials had said the prime minister had “authorised” the evacuation of animals from Kabul contradicted Mr Johnson’s previous denials of involvement.

The PM doubled down yesterday when asked if he had helped to get the animals out, telling reporters: “No, that is… this whole thing is total rhubarb.” On a visit to north Wales, Mr Johnson said he was “very proud of what our armed services did with Operation Pitting”, adding: “I can tell you that the military always prioritised human beings and that was quite right.”

But, as he was talking, further leaked correspondence was published suggesting that No 10 and the then foreign secretary Dominic Raab had been involved in the decision.

The BBC reported another email from the same day, which said Mr Raab was “seeking a steer from No 10 on whether” to call Nowzad staff forward. Another email from Nigel Casey, the prime minister’s special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, showed Mr Casey asking the national security adviser “to seek clear guidance for us from No 10 asap on what they would like us to do”.