Rwanda exemption

SIR – I served in the Army for 37 years, including on operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. On every tour, British Forces relied heavily on local interpreters and guides. They enabled us to communicate effectively, and to navigate vital societal and cultural complexities.

Many of those people were prepared to die to help us, or risk their long-term security after we had withdrawn. In Bosnia, Iraq and especially Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of August 2021, those people were rendered acutely vulnerable by virtue of their connection to us.

It has been concerning to see these courageous people, on whom our safety depended, being left behind without safe routes to claim asylum. They believed that helping us would bring peace and stability to their countries. Many are from Afghanistan, and have been forced to use small boats to reach our shores. Such people now face relocation to Rwanda.

An amendment to the Rwanda Bill proposed by Lord Browne of Ladyton, a former defence secretary, would exempt those who worked with British Forces overseas from removal to Rwanda. The Government will be considering this amendment (and others) after Easter. Other retired senior military officers, including His Honour Jeffrey Blackett, a former judge advocate, strongly support it.

There are moral and operational reasons to do so. Morally, we have a duty to anyone who was prepared to work alongside us and put themselves at risk, and it is unconscionable that we should be contemplating abandoning them.

Fundamentally our operational effectiveness on overseas operations depends on our ability to recruit and trust local people. If they do not believe that we will support them, and if their safety in their country of birth is compromised, why would they volunteer to help us?

As Lord Stirrup said during the debates on the Bill, their support is crucial to the “success and safety of our own Armed Forces”.

Brigadier JPS Donnelly (retd) Chair of trustees, Centre for Military Justice London SE22