Former UK head of coalition forces in Afghanistan backs our campaign

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May 01, 2023 View online 1 / Former UK head of coalition forces in Afghanistan: It would be a 'travesty' to deport hero pilot The British former commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan is urging the government to show "solidarity and friendship" towards an Afghan pilot being threatened with deportation to Rwanda.   Backing The Independent's campaign, General Lord David Richards of Herstmonceux said it would be a "travesty of justice" if the airman, who arrived in the UK via small boat, was to be kicked out.   The Afghan Air Force lieutenant worked alongside British and coalition forces, flying more than 30 combat missions, and escaped the country under threat of death from the Taliban, leaving his young family behind.    Lord Richards, a former chief of defence staff and head of UK armed forces, told The Independent: "Those who fought together in Afghanistan, the Afghan, British and other coalition forces did so with unwavering courage, dedication and solidarity.   "They forged a fellowship in battle. We need to stand by each other at times of need and continue to show that solidarity now" 2 / Boris Johnson calls for resignations over Richard Sharp cartoon in Guardian The former prime minister said publishing the cartoon was a worse mistake than helping to secure him an £800,000 loan 3 / Girl, 16, took own life at top boarding school after 'hyper-fixating on first ever detention' Just hours before she had reportedly been due to receive a two-hour punishment, Caitlyn took her own life 4 / Two pensioners killed in crash with cement mixer truck in Suffolk Pensioners were trapped in the vehicle and were extracted by fire service 5 / UK to continue Sudan rescue operation with flight from Port Sudan Some 2,122 people have been taken to safety on 23 flights from the Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum THE BIG QUESTION What are the new rules on voter ID at polling stations for upcoming local elections? Voters in the UK will be required to present photo identification to prove they are who they say they are when they arrive at polling stations from May 2023, after a change in the law instigated by the UK government. The new stricture came in as part of the Elections Act 2022, first trailed in the Queen's Speech of May 2021 and passed by Parliament last April in the interest of improving election security. It will not apply to those voting by post. Members of the public voting in person will be able to present 21 different forms of identification deemed valid but fears have nevertheless been expressed that the change could deter some from casting their ballot and lead to greater disenfranchisement. Research carried out by the Cabinet Office in 2021 found that 9 per cent of the British public do not currently hold any form of photo ID that is both in-date and clearly recognisable. For the full story click here  £99 £20 for 1 year ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more SUBSCRIBE NOW WATCH / 'Masked gang' send west London restaurant up in flames as people dine NUMBER OF THE DAY 40,000 – Thousands of travellers hoping to return to the UK on Monday 1 May, the last day of the bank holiday weekend, are being told their flights are cancelled. Ryanair alone has cancelled 220 departures, and says 40,000 passengers have had their travel plans wrecked. Read more here  QUOTE OF THE DAY "Those who fought together in Afghanistan, the Afghan, British and other coalition forces did so with unwavering courage, dedication and solidarity. They forged a fellowship in battle. We need to stand by each other at times of need and continue to show that solidarity now." – The British former commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan General Lord David Richards  is urging the government to show "solidarity and friendship" towards an Afghan pilot being threatened with deportation to Rwanda. 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