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Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer arriving in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting, February 19, 2024
CAMPAIGNERS demanded today that the government come clean about British forces’ atrocities in Afghanistan after Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer spoke of “horrific accounts” of the killing of children and other civilians.
Mr Mercer advised the public inquiry looking at the issue that Afghan special forces had told him of murderous abuses by members of the Special Air Service (SAS) during the British occupation of the country.
In response to a question, Mr Mercer made it clear that he was talking about “allegations of straight murder.”
Outrage greeted Donald Trump’s suggestion earlier this year that Britain stayed off the front lines. But evidence suggests our forces were at times pulled from the most dangerous fighting — not by military failure, but by pressure at home, says IAN SINCLAIR
As the government quietly upgrades the role of Britain’s special forces, their growing global footprint and near-total exemption from democratic oversight should alarm us all, says ROGER McKENZIE
