The Defence Secretary said Paul Farthing and staff from the Nowzad animal shelter in Kabul “qualified” for evacuation.

       But Mr Wallace added: “As for the animals that he has rescued and saved, it is just not going to be the case that I will prioritise them over the men, women and children we see in desperate need at the gate. I don’t believe that the Taliban’s main point of target will be his workforce and indeed the animals he is looking after.”

       Mr Farthing, who served with the Army in Afghanistan is campaigning to have his staff, their families, as well as 140 dogs and 60 cats evacuated.