Wallace denies animal rescuer ‘left behind’

THE Defence Secretary has dismissed claims that he blocked a former marine and animal charity founder from accessing a charter plane out of Afghanistan.

Ben Wallace said the accusations made by Paul Farthing, who set up the Nowzad sanctuary in Afghanistan 15 years ago, were “b-------”.

Mr Farthing, known as “Pen”, said he had arranged an aircraft for 69 staff and dozens of animals but the flight failed to take off. Since then Mr Farthing claims he has been “left to fend for myself in

‘My advisers don’t stop anyone, they don’t make those decisions, the airport is run by the US’

Kabul”, and that he had been “cut off from my MOD support line by the special adviser to Ben Wallace”.

But Mr Wallace said the claims were wrong, telling LBC’S Nick Ferrari: “That’s b-------, Nick. This is not about the issue of a plane coming in, this is about the flow at those gates.

“My advisers don’t stop anyone, they don’t make those decisions, the airport is run by the US.

“This is not about a plane you charter coming in, this is about whether when he turns up, will he get processed in time?”

Celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Piers Morgan have decried the Government’s decision to prioritise the evacuation of British nationals and refugees over Mr Farthing’s dogs and cats.