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You will lose our backing if corruption goes on, Brown tells Karzai
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor6 Nov 2009
Gordon Brown warned Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai today that the West could pull its support unless he tackled corruption and fast-tracked troop numbers.
In a bid to shore up backing for the war among voters and within Labour, the Prime Minister used a speech to set out five "key tests" for the Kabul government if it was to keep UK support.
He demanded the installation of an international "anti-corruption czar" to work alongside Mr Karzai. Support for the war, which is at its lowest ever, was undermined further this week when five British soldiers were murdered by an Afghan policeman.
With 230 British troops having died in the country since 2001, Mr Brown made plain that there was a price for his support. He said: "Sadly, the government of Afghanistan has become a by-word for corruption. And I am not prepared to put the lives of British men and women in harm's way for a government that does not stand up against corruption."
He revealed he had personally conveyed his message to the Afghan leader in a phone call last night. "President Karzai agreed with me yesterday that the first priority of his new government would be to take decisive action against corruption. I proposed that there be a new anti-corruption law, that a new anti-corruption commission be formed with powers of investigation and prosecution, that the commission appoint an international adviser of substance, and there be new rules for the more transparent award of contracts".
Mr Brown's five tests are:
■ Tackling corruption.
■ Increasing Afghan troop numbers by 134,000 by the end of next year.
■ More economic development and a cut in dependence on foreign aid.
■ Reconciliation to include former insurgents in the government.
■ Better relations with Pakistan.
Mr Brown slapped down former Labour minister and chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Kim Howells, who this week led calls for withdrawal of British troops.
Mr Brown today rejected Mr Howells's call for a "fortress Britain" approach that would see the country's borders strengthened against terrorism instead. Mr Brown insisted that the war was worth fighting to protect the nation from outside attack. He said: "We will not be deterred, dissuaded or diverted from taking whatever measures are necessary to protect our security."
He also said that "in the end we will succeed or fail together", a phrase that has been interpreted as his first admission that the war could end in failure. But in an interview with GMTV, the premier said: "We cannot, must not and will not walk away."
■ Mr Brown declared today that he intended to remain as Labour leader for the next five years. He told the Daily Record: "I will be standing at the election to stand for a full Parliament."
