Boris Johnson says it was ‘total rhubarb’ that he intervened on his own to save hundreds of livestock from Afghanistan

BORIS Johnson has played down claims that he approved the controversial shipment of hundreds of dogs and cats from Afghanistan under the name “rhubarb general”.

The Prime Minister and Downing Street strongly deny he personally gave the green light to evacuate dozens of desperate animals from Kabul at the height of the Taliban takeover.

Mr Johnson told reporters in Wales earlier today that he was “proud” of the plane lifts and insisted: “This whole thing is rhubarb.

“I am very proud of what our armed services did with the operation Plot and it’s an incredible thing to move 15,000 people out of Kabul the way we did.

“I think it’s also good that we can help the vets that have come out.

“But I can tell you that the military has always put people first, and that’s absolutely true. I think we should be incredibly proud of that. Pitching Activity and what it achieves. “

It comes after a string of emails and letters emerged revealing MPs and officials repeatedly suggested Boris personally gave the green light for the evacuation.

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In a person from the Foreign Office team supporting the operation, an official said the Nowzad animal charity had “received a lot of publicity” and that “the Prime Minister has just allowed staff and their animals to evacuated”.

Trudy Harrison, then Mr Johnson’s personal secretary, contacted a private jet company to find a way out for the pets.

They assumed she was referring to the “boss” and insisted she was acting with his backing.

But No10 insists he is not responsible for directing and blames officials for making it seem so.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It is not uncommon in Whitehall for decisions to be interpreted or portrayed as coming directly from the Prime Minister, even if this is not the case.”

And to our understanding that is what happened in this case. “

Yesterday, DWP boss These Coffey said: “It is not unusual in Parliament and Government when people say…for their pet projects, the Prime Minister has said it is a priority. .

“Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has described calls for debate on the issue as ‘loud about a few animals’.