Ex-soldier Tobias Ellwood steps down as Chair of Commons Defence Committee following controversy
Tobias Ellwood, former soldier and Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East, has resigned from his prestigious role as Chair of the Commons Defence Committee. This comes after Ellwood faced backlash in July for posting a video on Twitter, now known as X, in which he praised the Taliban. Outraged MPs on the Defence Committee had planned to remove him from his position, leading Ellwood to choose resignation over a no-confidence vote.
“Country Transformed”: Ellwood's Controversial Statements on the Taliban
In the controversial video, Ellwood described Afghanistan under Taliban rule as a "country transformed" and claimed that "security has vastly improved, corruption is down, and the opium trade has all but disappeared". These statements sparked outrage, with fellow MPs questioning Ellwood's judgement and loyalty. The ex-minister has since apologized for his words, acknowledging that they were poorly worded and had been taken out of context.
New Chair to be Elected
With Ellwood's resignation, MPs will now have the opportunity to vote for a new committee chair to replace him. The decision holds significant weight, as the Defence Committee plays a vital role in overseeing the UK's defense and security policies. It remains to be seen who will be selected for the position and what impact this change in leadership will have.
Taliban's Treatment of Women
December last year saw the Taliban impose strict measures against women in Afghanistan, including a ban on attending school and shutting down hair and beauty salons. Additionally, women were prohibited from taking university entrance exams. Despite these facts, Ellwood, who had recently visited the country, made controversial remarks about the improvement in security, corruption, and opium growth. The comments only served to amplify the outcry against him.
Mr Ellwood has not yet provided a comment regarding his resignation.
