John Baron MP presses Prime Minister over Afghanistan discord

MP highlights concerns over unity of purpose

Yesterday in the House of Commons during the Prime Minister’s statement on the G8 and G20 conference, John Baron MP raised the issue of disunity regarding strategy and purpose in Afghanistan.

John said:

“I’m sure the Prime Minister will agree that if we are to succeed in Afghanistan then there must be unity of purpose. How concerned is he therefore by the recent resignation of General McChrystal, the resignation of key Ministers within President Karzai’s government, and the ‘extended leave’ being taken by the UK’s special representative to Afghanistan.”

The Prime Minister responded to John’s points about General McChrystal and the resignations of key ministers within the Afghan government by saying they were outside his jurisdiction.

John said afterwards:

“These recent developments suggest discord regarding strategy within the British, American and Afghan camps. This is worrying. We need clear goals against which to measure success or failure in Afghanistan and by which we can then decide when to bring our troops home.”

Ends

Word Count: 178

Date:   29^th June 2010

Notes to Editors

1. See press releases ‘John Baron MP presses for Ministerial statement on Afghanistan’ [24th June 2010] and ‘MP questions PM over Afghanistan’ [14^th June 2010].