Tobias Ellwood facing Defence Committee no confidence vote after Taliban remarks

Summary:

• Tobias Ellwood faces no-confidence vote by Defence Committee after praising aspects of the Taliban's governance in Afghanistan.
• Ellwood's remarks deemed controversial and criticized for appearing to praise the extremist group.
• The MP argues for an incremental approach to work with the Taliban on issues such as human rights and women's rights.

Tobias Ellwood, a member of the Defence Committee, is under scrutiny as calls for a no-confidence vote emerge following his remarks on the Taliban. In a recent video, Ellwood praised certain aspects of the Taliban's governance in Afghanistan, leading to criticism and accusations of being a 'useful idiot' for the extremist group.

In the video, Tobias Ellwood acknowledged that since the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban has taken control of the country. He pointed out that, despite their controversial rule, the group has brought some level of order and security to certain areas and has effectively cracked down on the drugs trade. He cited an article from broadsheets that hailed the Taliban's counter-narcotics program as the most successful ever. Although he received backlash for his remarks, Ellwood defended his position, stating that it is essential to acknowledge the current reality in Afghanistan and find ways to work with the Taliban incrementally on issues such as human rights and women's rights.

While many critics argue that the Taliban's governance is oppressive and incompatible with democratic values, Ellwood maintains that it is crucial to engage with them diplomatically to prevent further instability and mass migration. The debate continues, and the Defence Committee is now facing a decision on whether to hold a no-confidence vote against Tobias Ellwood.