Tory MP Tobias Ellwood faces the chop as boss of the Commons’ defence committee after praising Taliban

A SENIOR Tory MP who heaped praise on the Taliban faces the chop as boss of the Commons’ powerful defence committee.

Tobias Ellwood sparked fury for a bizarre video claiming Afghanistan has “vastly improved” since the brutal extremists seized control in 2021.

PA

Mr Ellwood has since deleted the video – praised as ‘positive by the Taliban – and admitted that ‘reflections of my personal visit could have been better worded’[/caption]

Now members of his own committee have launched a confidence motion to oust him as the chairman.

Tory MPs Mark Francois and Richard Drax mounted the putsch alongside Labour’s Kevan Jones and Derek Twigg.

Mr Francois had fumed that Mr Ellwood’s comments were “not in our name” and said he had failed to mention the Taliban were “still trying to identify and kill Afghan civilians”.

Mr Ellwood has since deleted the video – praised as “positive” by the Taliban – and admitted that “reflections of my personal visit could have been better worded”.

Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said it was “not an assessment that the UK nor the Prime Minister agrees with at all.”

The confidence motion – which must be carried by a majority of members – is set for when Parliament returns after the summer break in September.