Public deliver damning verdict on Afghan war: Seven in ten say bloody campaign has not been worthwhile for Britain

Nearly seven in ten people believe the military campaign in Afghanistan has not been ‘worthwhile’ for Britain.

As the last British troops left Camp Bastion yesterday, a poll suggested the majority of the public are sceptical of the claims of politicians and generals that the 13-year conflict has made both Afghanistan and the UK safer from terrorism.

The research, for BBC news, found 68 per cent thought it had not been worthwhile and 42 per cent believed the UK was actually ‘less safe’ now than when the war began in 2001.

Farewell: Wing Commander Matt Radnall hugs Brigadier Robert Thomson, carrying his carefully folded Union Flag as the very last British Chinook helicopter arrives at Kandahar from Camp Bastion

Only 14 per cent of the 1,000 people polled thought the UK was safer as a result of the intervention, and 39 per cent thought there was ‘no real difference’ as Britain’s military involvement formally came to a close this week and Camp Bastion was handed over to Afghan control.