Boris Johnson says he ‘totally’ trusts Rap despite his Crete holiday

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Boris Johnson threw his protective arm around Dominic Raab this evening and insisted he had “absolutely” confidence in the foreign secretary.

The prime minister personally backed the number two in command against allegations that his luxury vacation last week distracted him from the urgent crisis in Afghanistan.

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Dominic Raab leaves the State Department for Downing Street this afternoon, looking nervous. Photo: AFP

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Boris Johnson says he “fully” trusts RaabCredit: Sky News

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Raab said he was restricted to “prioritizing security and capacity at the airport” in Kabul Credit: Alami

Mr Raab today stepped up his defense of his lack of contact with his Afghan counterpart from his five-star retreat in Crete – and insisted that was not a priority.

Asked if he had complete confidence in Mr Raab, the prime minister said: “Absolutely.

“And I can tell you that the entire government is working virtually around the clock to do what we can to resolve it, to deal with the situation that was a long time ago, and to make sure that as many people as possible come back as possible.”

And in a rare statement issued earlier, Mr. Raab responded to those who demanded he resign or be fired – which he refused.

He said, “The entire government has been working tirelessly over the past week to help as many people as possible evacuate from Afghanistan.

“The UK government’s top priority has been to secure Kabul airport so that flights can depart.”

Last Friday, he said, his officials advised contacting Afghan Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar.

But he said “events quickly overcame that” and the call was delegated to a secretary of state.

Raab said he was restricted to “prioritizing security and capacity at the airport” in Kabul.

“In any case, the Afghan foreign minister agreed to take the call, but was unable to do so due to the rapidly deteriorating situation,” he said.

And the foreign minister stuck to his decision, refusing to contact Kabul, and said that the focus on evacuations had led to hundreds of safe return.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said a phone call to an Afghan government “that was melting” would not have made “the most of a difference.”

Labour’s shadow foreign minister, Lisa Nandy, said: “This simply adds nothing.

“Talking to the Afghan government and identifying the immediate actions needed to ensure the safe evacuation of the British and Afghans should have been an absolute priority.”

Desperate Afghans climb stairs to try to board a plane at Kabul airport Mr Raab has been vacationing in Crete at a five-star hotel Minister of the Armed Forces James Hebe defends Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab for failing to take a call from his Afghan counterpart

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