THE Tory peer who works as the minister for Afghanistan was on holiday as Kabul fell, according to reports.

Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, who has been the UK Government’s Minister for South Asia since 2017, was reportedly in regular contact with the Afghan foreign minister as peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government were ongoing.

However, when Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab refused to take time out of his holiday to make a phone call to Afghanistan which may have saved the lives of interpreters, Ahmad was also taking a break.

Instead the call was delegated to Lord Peter Goldsmith, according to Sky News, and ultimately never made.

As well as the two top Tories, three of Britain's most senior civil servants whose departments are overseeing the evacuation from Afghanistan are also on holiday, according to The Times.

Sir Philip Barton, Matthew Rycroft and David Williams, permanent secretaries at the Foreign Office, the Home Office, and the Ministry of Defence, are all currently holidaying.

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The news comes as Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf accused Raab of “having pina coladas by the pool” instead of making the key call to help Afghan interpreters.

Yousaf was speaking at a rally in Glasgow when he took aim at the Tory government.

“In amongst all these big numbers, in amongst the trillions and the billions and the millions and the hundreds of thousands, not one single apology from the UK Government,” he said.

“Not one single syllable of regret. Not one single ounce of compassion from the UK Government even now at the most desperate time of need for our Afghan brothers and sisters.

“Shame on each and every one of those political leaders who have abandoned the Afghan people.”

He added: “All the while we have a Foreign Secretary who is more occupied with having pina coladas by the pool as opposed to picking up the phone to help Afghan interpreters who helped our soldiers there in Afghanistan.

“Shame on each and every one of them.”

The National: Humza Yousaf

The Health Secretary (above) described himself as “apoplectic” about the situation in Afghanistan, but added: “As angry as I may be, and I say that on this typically Scottish day as the rain pours down and I see dozens of people, dozens of Glaswegians from all colours and races, religions, non-religions, standing here today in solidarity with the Afghan people, and I am reminded that there is good in the world.”

This week, the Prime Minister pledged to take in 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, with up to 5000 to be allowed into the UK in the first year.

But Yousaf attacked the scheme and the UK Government, saying: “If you’re looking for sanctuary, then Scotland can be your home.

“If you’re looking for a place for refuge, then Scotland can be your home.

“I call on the UK Government to show some basic humanity.

“To simply say we will allow 5000 Afghans – 20,000 over a number of years – is pathetic.

“Go further and go quicker, and I promise you our Scottish cities, our Scottish islands, our Scottish towns, our Scottish villages, they will welcome Afghans here as we have done for many years before with our Afghan community.”