'Put this right without delay!' Ministers are accused of 'appalling breach' of debt owed to Afghan interpreters as MPs call for them to be given sanctuary

  • 15 MPs said those who risked their lives for the UK 'must be allowed to live in it' 
  • There are believed to be 150 interpreters who are desperate for UK sanctuary  
  • Only two interpreters and their families have been allowed in under the scheme   

By Larisa Brown and David Williams for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Ministers were last night accused of an ‘appalling breach’ of the debt owed to Afghan interpreters who served alongside British soldiers during the 13-year war.

A cross-party group of MPs urged the Defence Secretary and Home Secretary to give sanctuary to the heroes and their families without delay.

In a letter seen by the Daily Mail, the 15 MPs said those who put their lives at risk for the UK ‘must be allowed to live in it’.

Dr Julian Lewis, chairman of the Intelligence and Security committee and champion for the Afghan translators, is among those who have signed the letter.

Honour: Former Prime Minister David Cameron meets a translator in Kabul, 2011

Honour: Former Prime Minister David Cameron meets a translator in Kabul, 2011

There are believed to be 150 interpreters remaining who are desperate for sanctuary but who have been denied a visa.

This newspaper’s award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign has reported how ministers pledged to let in 50 interpreters under a policy announced two years ago. 

But only two plus their families have so far been allowed into the UK under the revised scheme because officials got the figures wrong.

The specific criteria for a visa was so narrow that it only included translators who had served in Helmand for more than a year and had been made redundant. 

In another scandal, interpreters already in the UK under a previous scheme were told by the Home Office their wives and children could join them in March 2019. But more than a year later none of those women have been given visas.

The Home Office has previously said that although it is committed to the immigration rule change, it is a ‘complex’ operation involving many public bodies.

Last month Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel promised to work out a better deal for those left behind. 

MPs said last night that they must implement changes immediately.

The letter states: ‘These failures represent an appalling breach of the debt the UK owes to the interpreters who served in Afghanistan. Those who have put their lives at risk for our country must be allowed to live in it.

‘They must not be left to live in fear of reprisals for their service, nor must they be cruelly separated from their families.

‘We urge you to put this right without further delay.’

The letter was coordinated by Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Jamie Stone MP and signed by 14 others.

Rafi Hottak, once the supervisor of UK translators who now campaigns on behalf of his former colleagues wanting sanctuary in Britain, says he estimates there are between 120-150 interpreters still in Afghanistan needing help. Above: Afghan Interpreter 'Shaffy' who worked for the British Army on the front lines in Helmand, and once translated for David Cameron during a visit in 2011

Rafi Hottak, once the supervisor of UK translators who now campaigns on behalf of his former colleagues wanting sanctuary in Britain, says he estimates there are between 120-150 interpreters still in Afghanistan needing help. Above: Afghan Interpreter 'Shaffy' who worked for the British Army on the front lines in Helmand, and once translated for David Cameron during a visit in 2011

It noted that it had been more than seven years since the late Lord Ashdown highlighted the ‘debt of honour’ the UK owes those who risked their lives to help our troops.

MPs referred to the Daily Mail report that it had been two years since the then-Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson expanded the policy towards interpreters.

Under the new rules, interpreters could come to the UK if they had served in Helmand in the years before 2012 and were made redundant. MPs noted that two years later just two had qualified.

The group also cited another report by the Daily Mail about how the Government had failed to uphold its promise to let in the wives and children of interpreters already in Britain. 

Mr Stone said: ‘How can ministers sleep at night knowing they have left them at the mercy of the Taliban?’

Interpreters denied sanctuary welcomed the letter. 

Latif, 36, who worked with the SAS on the frontline, said: ‘I ask the Government to listen to the MPs.’ 

A Government spokesman said: ‘The Home Secretary and Defence Secretary are committed to ensuring a fair system for the resettlement of Afghan interpreters and met last week to resolve outstanding issues.’ 

Q&A 

Who are the interpreters?

They served alongside UK forces during the Afghan war before combat troops were pulled out of the country in 2014.

Many risked their lives on the front line to help protect British troops from Taliban attack. 

After UK forces pulled out, the Taliban sought to hunt them down.

Who is eligible for a visa?

Afghan interpreters who served alongside UK troops in Helmand Province for more than a year and were made redundant.

This has let 445 interpreters plus some of their family come to the UK. 

Interpreters can also apply under a second scheme but must prove they have been threatened.

Who is still excluded?

Those whose contracts came to an end or those who quit because of death threats have been refused sanctuary in Britain.

Afghan interpreters who served less than a year in Helmand, and then went on to serve in places such as the capital Kabul, are also excluded.

How many are left there?

Rafi Hottak, once the supervisor of UK translators who now campaigns on behalf of his former colleagues wanting sanctuary in Britain, says he estimates there are between 120-150 interpreters still in Afghanistan needing help. 

Some translators became so desperate they paid people-smugglers to try to make it to the UK illegally.

Many have ended up stuck in refugee camps across Europe.

They have struggled to apply for a visa to the UK from a third country.

What about their families?

Interpreters who are already in Britain were allowed to bring their wives and children with them at the time.

But many did not for reasons such as wanting to find a job and a home first. In these cases, interpreters have not been allowed to bring their family later on.

In March last year, then Home Secretary Sajid Javid scrapped the rule. But so far none of these family members have been allowed in under the new rules.

 

Priti PatelBen Wallace

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