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Ministers are to take personal charge of Britain's Afghan interpreters rescue programme in a desperate bid to speed up the relocation process.
After fierce criticism, they have ordered a 'doubling of the pace' at which the scheme is administered, with a wide review of rejected cases.
Some 1,500 officials are now working here and in Afghanistan to assess claims of former UK staff living under a Taliban death sentence.
It comes as the United States began its airlift of interpreters and militants continued their relentless advance across the war-ravaged country.
A 'mercy flight' of 221 Afghans, including children and babies, touched down in the US state of Virginia yesterday.
Ministers are to take personal charge of Britain's Afghan interpreters rescue programme in a desperate bid to speed up the relocation process (file photo of British soldiers in Afghanistan)
Up to 50,000 former US workers and their families are set to follow as part of Operation Allies Refuge.
Today the Daily Mail reveals the shocking story of Farid, a translator whose bid to relocate to Britain under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme (ARAP) was rejected – even after he was shot by suspected Taliban gunmen.
Last night Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the Government to revamp ARAP
