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UK MPs to Discuss British-Moroccan Ties After Newfound Position on Western Sahara
UK MPs to Discuss British-Moroccan Ties After Newfound Position on Western Sahara

Morocco World

time17-06-2025

  • Business
  • Morocco World

UK MPs to Discuss British-Moroccan Ties After Newfound Position on Western Sahara

Doha – The British Parliament is set to discuss the UK's burgeoning relations with Morocco in a much-anticipated debate at Westminster Hall on Wednesday, June 18. The session comes just two weeks after London threw its weight behind Morocco's Autonomy Plan for the Western Sahara, representing a decisive breakthrough in the Moroccan efforts to bring closure to the artificially prolonged territorial dispute, sustained for decades by external manipulation and separatist narratives. Led by MP Andrew Murrison, the parliamentary debate follows British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's high-profile visit to Rabat on June 1. During the trip, Lammy delivered a resounding endorsement of Morocco's 2007 autonomy proposal, hailing it as the 'most credible, realistic and pragmatic basis' for settling the Sahara conflict once and for all. Lammy's backing, announced during the 5th session of the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue, signaled a major shift in British policy. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the move as an 'important development,' noting the UK's influential status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and its role in the 'Friends of the Sahara' group. The UK's stance aligns with the growing international consensus in support of Morocco's autonomy initiative. In recent years, global powers such as the United States, France, and Spain have all viewed the Moroccan proposal as the only or the most viable path to a lasting resolution. Rabat's plan would grant the Sahara region substantial autonomy while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty. In addition to the autonomy endorsement, Lammy's visit saw the inking of several landmark agreements aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Key among them were infrastructure and trade deals related to Morocco's role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. The UK has pledged substantial investments to support Moroccan projects in the lead-up to the global tournament. The strategic agreements also included an expansion of the UK Export Finance's country limit for Morocco to £4 billion. This will enable greater British private sector participation in Moroccan public infrastructure projects, further cementing economic ties between London and Rabat. Algeria, the primary supporter of the Polisario Front's increasingly outdated and untenable separatist claims in Western Sahara, has sought to downplay the significance of the UK's policy shift. In a statement dripping with denial and desperation, Algiers dismissed the British move as 'inconsequential' to the ultimate resolution of the conflict. However, regional experts and analysts see the UK's embrace of Morocco's Autonomy Plan as yet another nail in the coffin of the Polisario's fading aspirations. The British endorsement not only deepens Algeria's diplomatic isolation on the Sahara dossier but also shows Morocco's undeniable momentum in rallying international support for its position. The UK's backing carries added historical weight, given Britain's complex role in the region's early 20th-century division. In 1904, the UK allowed France and Spain to carve up Morocco's territory without consulting the then-independent kingdom. Now, over a century later, London's course correction represents a step towards righting past wrongs and acknowledging Rabat's legitimate claims. Tags: Morocco UK relationsUK parliament

Natwest to close Wiltshire town centre branch this year
Natwest to close Wiltshire town centre branch this year

Yahoo

time10-06-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Natwest to close Wiltshire town centre branch this year

NatWest has confirmed that it will close its Trowbridge branch later this year as it reveals the closing date. NatWest has published a list of branch closures, with a number of Wiltshire branches set to be axed, including Chippenham and Trowbridge. The Wiltshire bank closures are among 55 nationwide, with a swathe of town centres across the UK to say goodbye to vital banking resources. The bank has confirmed the Trowbridge branch at 62 Fore Street will close its doors for good on October 16, 2025. In a document detailing plans for the closure, the bank informed customers its services could be accessed online. The document includes details of the nearest NatWest branches are in Bath, Kingswood in Bristol, and Wells. In addition, NatWest customers will be able to use banking hubs operated by Cash Access UK, including the Westbury branch. Recommend reading: Plant nursery's new owner off to a 'good start' Council is 'not permitted' to install cameras in illegal parking crackdown Town centre shop unit goes on the market According to the Sun, NatWest has more than 19 million customers and it says over 3.5 million customers use online banking. A spokesperson told the paper that the move was driven by more customers 'than ever before' using digital banking. Banking in south west Wiltshire has taken a hit in recent years. In nearby Warminster, the Lloyds bank building closed in December last year, with MP Dr Andrew Murrison lamenting the impact the closure could cause. Last week, Loungers Ltd confirmed it would be turning the high-street building into a lounge bar. Trowbridge also saw banking turbulence earlier this year after a Honda ploughed through the front, forcing the bank to shut for repairs. However, the branch reopened at the end of May, offering in-person banking once again. On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 28, customers could be seen entering the branch and using facilities inside. The establishment's Google Maps page also shows the branch is operating under its normal hours. A spokesperson for Nationwide confirmed the branch reopened on May 19. On Friday, March 14, shortly before 2:30pm, the hatchback smashed into of the branch on Castle Street, Trowbridge. Following the incident, the branch was boarded up, with a notice taped to the front of the bank reading: 'The branch is currently closed, we are working as quickly as possible to re-open'.

UK Special Forces vetoed asylum applications of Afghan ex-commando allies
UK Special Forces vetoed asylum applications of Afghan ex-commando allies

Arab News

time17-02-2025

  • Politics
  • Arab News

UK Special Forces vetoed asylum applications of Afghan ex-commando allies

LONDON: More than 2,000 resettlement applications by former Afghan Armed Forces commandos were rejected after UK Special Forces personnel vetoed their claims, preventing them from testifying to an inquiry into alleged war crimes, the BBC reported on Monday. The UK Ministry of Defense revealed in a court case brought by a former Afghan soldier that officers denied applications from thousands of men who had fought the Taliban alongside the British in Afghanistan, having previously denied that a policy of doing so existed. The MoD also refused to say, when asked by the BBC, if any applications for Triples Afghan soldiers — so-called because of the three-number identifications their units were assigned — had been supported by UK Special Forces senior figures. Afghan Triples units were trained and funded by the UK. They were deemed at risk of reprisals following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021, and allowed to apply for resettlement in the UK. However, controversy has surrounded the failure to support applications by UK Special Forces officers, as an inquiry is ongoing into allegations of war crimes committed by Special Forces soldiers in Afghanistan, where Triples commandos were present. If resettled in the UK, the Triples could be compelled by the inquiry to give evidence. Many remain in hiding in Afghanistan. One former Triples officer told the BBC: 'Although (some asylum application) decisions have been overturned, it's too late for some people. 'The delays have caused a lot of problems. People have been captured by the Taliban or lost their lives.' The officer said Afghan commandos felt 'betrayed' by their former 'brothers' in the Special Forces, adding: 'If Special Forces made these rejections they should say why. They should have to answer.' The MoD denied that the Special Forces had the power to veto asylum applications, but former Defense Minister Andrew Murrison later admitted that they did after a BBC investigation. Mike Martin MP, a former British Army officer who served in Afghanistan, told the BBC: 'There is the appearance that UK Special Forces blocked the Afghan special forces applications because they were witnesses to the alleged UK war crimes currently being investigated in the Afghan inquiry.' He added: 'If the MoD is unable to offer any explanation, then the matter should be included in the inquiry.' Former Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, who also served in Afghanistan and was an armed forces minister while in government, said he had heard 'horrific' allegations made by Triples soldiers against UK Special Forces members. It is 'very clear to me that there is a pool of evidence that exists within the Afghan (special forces) community that are now in the UK that should contribute to this inquiry,' he added. The ministry previously told the BBC: 'There has been no evidence to suggest that any part of the MoD has sought to prevent former members of the Afghan specialist units from giving evidence to the inquiry.'

UK Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms
UK Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

Saudi Gazette

time17-02-2025

  • Politics
  • Saudi Gazette

UK Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

LONDON — UK Special Forces command rejected resettlement applications from more than 2,000 Afghan commandos who had shown credible evidence of service in units that fought alongside the SAS and SBS, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed for the first Special Forces officers appear to have rejected every application from a former Afghan commando referred to them for sponsorship, despite the Afghan units having fought with the British on life-threatening missions against the MoD had previously denied there was a blanket policy to reject members of the units — known as the Triples — but the BBC has not been able to find any evidence that UK Special Forces (UKSF) supported any resettlement if UKSF had supported any applications, the MoD declined to answer the Triples — so-called because their designations were CF 333 and ATF 444 — were set up, trained, and paid by UK Special Forces and supported the SAS and SBS on operations in Afghanistan. When the country fell to the Taliban in 2021, they were judged to be in grave danger of reprisal and were entitled to apply for resettlement to the rejection of their applications was controversial because they came at a time when a public inquiry in the UK was investigating allegations that Special Forces had committed war crimes on operations in Afghanistan where the Triples were inquiry has the power to compel witnesses who are in the UK, but not non-UK nationals who are overseas. If resettled, former members of the Triples could be compelled by the inquiry to provide potentially significant Panorama revealed earlier this year that UK Special Forces command had been given veto power over their resettlement applications and denied them asylum in Britain. The revelation caused a wave of anger among some former members of the SAS and others who served with the Afghan MoD initially denied the existence of the veto, suggesting that the BBC's reporting had been inaccurate, but then-defense Minister Andrew Murrison was later forced to tell the House of Commons the government had misled parliament in its confirmation of the more than 2,000 rejections emerged in court hearings earlier this month during a legal challenge brought by a former member of the Triples. Lawyers for the MoD applied for a restriction order which temporarily prevented the BBC from reporting on the relevant parts of the proceedings, before withdrawing their application last week under disclosed in court also showed that at the same time the MoD was denying the existence of the veto, it already knew that every rejection decision made by UK Special Forces was potentially unsound and would have to be independently Martin MP, a member of the defense select committee and former British Army officer who served in Afghanistan, told the BBC the rejections were "extremely concerning"."There is the appearance that UK Special Forces blocked the Afghan special forces applications because they were witnesses to the alleged UK war crimes currently being investigated in the Afghan inquiry," Martin said."If the MoD is unable to offer any explanation, then the matter should be included in the inquiry," he Mercer, the former Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View, who served alongside the SBS in Afghanistan, testified to the Afghan inquiry that he had spoken to former members of the Triples and heard "horrific" allegations of murder by UK Special said it was "very clear to me that there is a pool of evidence that exists within the Afghan community that are now in the United Kingdom that should contribute to this Inquiry".The MoD began a review last year of all 2,022 resettlement applications referred to and rejected by UK Special Forces. All contained what MoD caseworkers on the resettlement scheme regarded as "credible" evidence of service with the Triples government said at the time that the review would take 12 weeks, but more than a year later it has yet to be completed. Some rejections have already been overturned, allowing former Triples to come to the UK. But the MoD has refused to inform the Afghan commandos whether they are in scope of the review or if their rejections were upheld, unless they write to the are in hiding in Afghanistan, making it difficult to obtain legal representation or pro-actively contact the MoD. Dozens have reportedly been beaten, tortured, or killed by the Taliban since the group regained control of the country."Although decisions have been overturned, it's too late for some people," said a former Triples officer. "The delays have caused a lot of problems. People have been captured by the Taliban or lost their lives," he officer said that the Afghan commandos worked alongside British Special Forces "like brothers" and felt "betrayed" by the widespread rejections."If Special Forces made these rejections they should say why. They should have to answer," he MoD is now facing a legal challenge to aspects of the review, including the decision not to inform applicants whether their case is being reviewed or disclose the criteria used to select those in legal challenge is being brought by a former senior member of the Triples who is now in the UK, on behalf of commandos still in Afghanistan."Our client's focus is on his soldiers left behind in Afghanistan, some of whom have been killed while they wait for these heavily delayed protection decisions," said Dan Carey, a partner at Deighton Pierce Glynn."As things stand they have a right to request a reassessment of a decision they haven't even been told about. And there are others who think they are part of the Triples Review when the secret criteria would tell them that their cases aren't even being looked at."Lawyers acting for the former member of the Triples also heavily criticised the level of disclosure in the case by the MoD, which has not handed over any documentation from within UK Special Forces or government records about the decision-making process that led to the court filings, they criticised the "total inadequacy" of the MoD's disclosure, calling it an "an obvious failure to comply with the duty of candour and to provide necessary explanation" of the evidence that emerged last week in court also showed that the MoD appeared to have rejected out of hand some applicants who served with UK Special Forces in Afghanistan after 2014 — when Britain's conventional armed forces left Helmand province — without even referring them to UK Special Forces headquarters for MoD has not explained the reasoning behind the policy, which was kept secret from applicants. A spokesperson for the MoD said that after 2014 the UK's role "evolved from combat operations to primarily training, advising and assisting CF 333, who were under the command of the Afghan Ministry of Interior".But officers who served with UK Special Forces told the BBC that the Triples continued to support British-led operations after 2014."Saying the Triples didn't support UK Special Forces operations after 2014 isn't true at all," said former officer who served with UKSF. "We had a squadron of CF 333 with us. We worked closely together. These were NATO targets, UK planned operations," he said. — BBC

Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms
Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

Yahoo

time17-02-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Special Forces blocked 2,000 credible asylum claims from Afghan commandos, MoD confirms

UK Special Forces command rejected resettlement applications from more than 2,000 Afghan commandos who had shown credible evidence of service in units that fought alongside the SAS and SBS, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed for the first time. UK Special Forces officers appear to have rejected every application from a former Afghan commando referred to them for sponsorship, despite the Afghan units having fought with the British on life-threatening missions against the Taliban. The MoD had previously denied there was a blanket policy to reject members of the units - known as the Triples - but the BBC has not been able to find any evidence that UK Special Forces (UKSF) supported any resettlement applications. Asked if UKSF had supported any applications, the MoD declined to answer the question. The Triples - so-called because their designations were CF 333 and ATF 444 - were set up, trained, and paid by UK Special Forces and supported the SAS and SBS on operations in Afghanistan. When the country fell to the Taliban in 2021, they were judged to be in grave danger of reprisal and were entitled to apply for resettlement to the UK. The rejection of their applications was controversial because they came at a time when a public inquiry in the UK was investigating allegations that Special Forces had committed war crimes on operations in Afghanistan where the Triples were present. The inquiry has the power to compel witnesses who are in the UK, but not non-UK nationals who are overseas. If resettled, former members of the Triples could be compelled by the inquiry to provide potentially significant evidence. BBC Panorama revealed earlier this year that UK Special Forces command had been given veto power over their resettlement applications and denied them asylum in Britain. The revelation caused a wave of anger among some former members of the SAS and others who served with the Afghan units. The MoD initially denied the existence of the veto, suggesting that the BBC's reporting had been inaccurate, but then-Defence Minister Andrew Murrison was later forced to tell the House of Commons the government had misled parliament in its denials. The confirmation of the more than 2,000 rejections emerged in court hearings earlier this month during a legal challenge brought by a former member of the Triples. Lawyers for the MoD applied for a restriction order which temporarily prevented the BBC from reporting on the relevant parts of the proceedings, before withdrawing their application last week under challenge. Documents disclosed in court also showed that at the same time the MoD was denying the existence of the veto, it already knew that every rejection decision made by UK Special Forces was potentially unsound and would have to be independently reviewed. Special forces blocked resettlement for elite Afghan troops Minister says Afghan commandos described 'horrific' SAS crimes SAS unit repeatedly killed Afghan detainees, BBC finds Mike Martin MP, a member of the defence select committee and former British Army officer who served in Afghanistan, told the BBC the rejections were "extremely concerning". "There is the appearance that UK Special Forces blocked the Afghan special forces applications because they were witnesses to the alleged UK war crimes currently being investigated in the Afghan inquiry," Martin said. "If the MoD is unable to offer any explanation, then the matter should be included in the inquiry," he added. Johnny Mercer, the former Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View, who served alongside the SBS in Afghanistan, testified to the Afghan inquiry that he had spoken to former members of the Triples and heard "horrific" allegations of murder by UK Special Forces. Mercer said it was "very clear to me that there is a pool of evidence that exists within the Afghan community that are now in the United Kingdom that should contribute to this Inquiry". The MoD began a review last year of all 2,022 resettlement applications referred to and rejected by UK Special Forces. All contained what MoD caseworkers on the resettlement scheme regarded as "credible" evidence of service with the Triples units. The government said at the time that the review would take 12 weeks, but more than a year later it has yet to be completed. Some rejections have already been overturned, allowing former Triples to come to the UK. But the MoD has refused to inform the Afghan commandos whether they are in scope of the review or if their rejections were upheld, unless they write to the MoD. Many are in hiding in Afghanistan, making it difficult to obtain legal representation or pro-actively contact the MoD. Dozens have reportedly been beaten, tortured, or killed by the Taliban since the group regained control of the country. "Although decisions have been overturned, it's too late for some people," said a former Triples officer. "The delays have caused a lot of problems. People have been captured by the Taliban or lost their lives," he said. The officer said that the Afghan commandos worked alongside British Special Forces "like brothers" and felt "betrayed" by the widespread rejections. "If Special Forces made these rejections they should say why. They should have to answer," he said. The MoD is now facing a legal challenge to aspects of the review, including the decision not to inform applicants whether their case is being reviewed or disclose the criteria used to select those in scope. The legal challenge is being brought by a former senior member of the Triples who is now in the UK, on behalf of commandos still in Afghanistan. "Our client's focus is on his soldiers left behind in Afghanistan, some of whom have been killed while they wait for these heavily delayed protection decisions," said Dan Carey, a partner at Deighton Pierce Glynn. "As things stand they have a right to request a reassessment of a decision they haven't even been told about. And there are others who think they are part of the Triples Review when the secret criteria would tell them that their cases aren't even being looked at." Lawyers acting for the former member of the Triples also heavily criticised the level of disclosure in the case by the MoD, which has not handed over any documentation from within UK Special Forces or government records about the decision-making process that led to the rejections. In court filings, they criticised the "total inadequacy" of the MoD's disclosure, calling it an "an obvious failure to comply with the duty of candour and to provide necessary explanation" of the process. New evidence that emerged last week in court also showed that the MoD appeared to have rejected out of hand some applicants who served with UK Special Forces in Afghanistan after 2014 - when Britain's conventional armed forces left Helmand province - without even referring them to UK Special Forces headquarters for sponsorship. The MoD has not explained the reasoning behind the policy, which was kept secret from applicants. A spokesperson for the MoD said that after 2014 the UK's role "evolved from combat operations to primarily training, advising and assisting CF 333, who were under the command of the Afghan Ministry of Interior". But officers who served with UK Special Forces told the BBC that the Triples continued to support British-led operations after 2014. "Saying the Triples didn't support UK Special Forces operations after 2014 isn't true at all," said former officer who served with UKSF. "We had a squadron of CF 333 with us. We worked closely together. These were NATO targets, UK planned operations," he said.

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