BBC
Boris Johnson has rejected claims that he authorised the evacuation of animals from Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul last year.
It comes after emails from officials published by MPs suggested the prime minister intervened in the evacuation of the animal charity Nowzad.
But Mr Johnson denied this, and added that the idea animals were prioritised over people was “total rhubarb”.
Earlier, Labour said his story was “not credible” and accused him of lying.
Further emails from the time of the evacuation, seen by BBC Newsnight, show Downing Street’s guidance was sought on approving Nowzad’s airlift.
On Wednesday, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published several emails as part of its inquiry into the evacuation of people from Kabul.
About 15,000 people were airlifted out of the Afghan capital last August, as the Taliban took control after the withdrawal of Western forces.
Among these were Pen Farthing, an ex-Royal Marine who runs the Nowzad animal charity, and 150 animals, on a chartered plane paid for by donations.
The UK government sponsored clearance for it, leading to a row over whether animals had been prioritised over people during the rescue effort.
