Better late than never, but why was Colchester MP Will Quince so slow to comment about the appalling situation which has unfolded in Afghanistan over the past week or so? (Gazette, August 20, “MP’s pride at soldiers’ evacuation efforts”)

It was not until last Friday’s Gazette that he had something to say, even though he is MP for a garrison town with Colchester-based soldiers deplored there several days earlier.

He should have been among the first MPs to comment – not the last.

Neighbouring MPs Sir Bernard Jenkin and Priti Patel were quoted by the Gazette earlier in the week, as were MPs from other parts of the country, but silence from the MP for Colchester until almost a week had elapsed.

What is his excuse for that?

Not only was he slow to comment on the disaster, to which the Government, of which he is a minister, stand accused of betraying and abandoning the people of Afghanistan, but what he had to say was too little too late.

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I am sure I am not the only resident to contrast Mr Quince’s poor performance with that of Colchester’s former MP Sir Bob Russell who the Gazette quoted previously in the week.

It reminded me of the time when Colchester had an MP who truly was a voice in Parliament for Colchester, including soldiers from the garrison who I recall he visited when they were deployed to Afghanistan. While Will Quince remained silent, Sir Bob was not only reported by the Gazette, but he also took part in a radio programme on BBC Essex and was featured in ITV Anglia’s “About Anglia” news.

Martin Goss

Axial Drive, Colchester