Don't use the H-word: Boris Johnson takes his family on a four-day trip to the West Country but No10 DENIES it's a holiday
Downing Street defended Boris Johnson today after revealing he has been in the Westcountry with his family since Sunday.
No10 said the Prime Minister was 'continuing to work' on issues including the fallout from the withdrawal from Afghanistan while away with pregnant wife Carrie and their son Wilfred.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Johnson was due back at his desk in London on Thursday, but declined to describe the trip as a holiday.
Pressed whether Mr Johnson is working full time, he responded: 'The Prime Minister is continuing to work.'
The timing prompted criticism from politicians attempting to help constituents with loved ones still in Afghanistan.
Leeds North West Labour MP Alex Sobel said: 'If its not a holiday what is it?
'MPs haven't had a briefing call since Thursday and I am now on over 200 family members stuck in Afghanistan and not a single response on a single case.'
No 10 said the Prime Minister was 'continuing to work' on issues including the fallout from the withdrawal from Afghanistan
Mr Johnson was due back at his desk in London on Thursday, but declined to describe the trip with Carrie and Wilfred as a holiday. Leeds North West Labour MP Alex Sobel said: 'If its not a holiday what is it?'
Hundreds of people also took to the streets of Kandahar, a traditional stronghold for the Taliban, waving the white Islamist flag as they celebrated the western withdrawal from Afghanistan
The UK completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan at the weekend, with the US due to complete its exit by August 31
Mr Johnson has already faced criticism for going on holiday as the Taliban was marching its way back to power in Afghanistan, while Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was on holiday to Crete.
HGis spokesman told reporters today: 'The Prime Minister is away for the next two days in the west of England but is continuing to work and will be back in the office in Downing Street on Thursday.
The spokesman was unable to say what time he departed, but said it was at some point on Sunday, around a day after the final British troops left Kabul.
Mr Raab said today the number of UK nationals left behind was in the 'low hundreds', and could not say how many Afghans the RAF was unable to airlift to safety.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had previously estimated that up to 1,100 eligible Afghans who had aided the British mission would not be evacuated in time.
Asked what he would say to critics who say Mr Johnson should not go on holiday during such a crucial period, his spokesman said: 'I would say the Prime Minister is continuing to work.'