Boris Johnson dismissed claims that he approved an airlift of animals out of Afghanistan as "rhubarb".

But Sky News has uncovered emails which suggest an aide to the Prime Minister assured Virgin airlines that if a plane could be secured, "relevant permissions would be fast-tracked in Government" to get in and out of Kabul.

The Government has denied claims it put the welfare of animals ahead of people by chartering a plane to airlift abandoned dogs out of Kabul in the summer - a plane that could have been used to evacuation Afghans.

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