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DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Now then, it’s nearly three weeks since more than 250 schoolgirls were abducted in Nigeria.  It’s widely believed that the girls were kidnapped by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.  The US has said they will do everything possible to help rescue the girls and deal with the terror threat there so what is the UK doing and should it be doing more?  I am joined from Screverton in Nottinghamshire by the Former International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell.  Very good to talk to you Mr Mitchell, it is incredibly concerning, the growing strength and the activities of Boko Haram, do you think the UK could and should get involved?

ANDREW MITCHELL: Well I very much agree with your former interviewee and what he said, this is an appalling attack on Nigerian civilization and I’m astonished at the lack of international coverage of these dreadful events have actually had. I have also no doubt at all that if the Nigerian government, with whom Britain has an extremely close relationship, ask for help and support, the sort of specialist assistance which Britain is in a position to give, I have no doubt at all that the British government will give and be giving that assistance.

DM: But you know, I know you have had dealings with the Nigerian regime, would any sovereign country go particularly to a former Colonial power?  Do you think that looks good for the ruling party? 

ANDREW MITCHELL: Well the position is this, Nigeria has an effective and well-staffed military, they have been in the past capable of undertaking anti-terrorist operations.  If they ask for specialist assistance, intelligence assistance or counter-terrorism assistance from a country like Britain which is in a position to help, then Britain should help and I have no doubt whatsoever that our government would be very willing to give that help and assistance. 

DM: Okay, when we talk about counter-terrorism help and intelligence, that’s a very broad definition, could it ultimately involve boots on the ground – observers, advisors, trainers, things like that?

ANDREW MITCHELL: No, I don't think there is any question of getting involved in that sort of long term commitment, what is required now is immediate action to free what is probably approaching school girls between the ages of 16 and 18 who are taking their final exams, these are the people on whom Nigeria is going to depend in future years and it is an appalling thing that has happened, these girls being kidnapped and taken away by these terrorists.  In the longer term what is required first of all is to split off and reintegrate and deradicalise those misguided people who are supporting Boko Haram to try and get them away from the terrorists and you do that by good development policies, increasing development in Northern Nigeria, focusing on security and stability, focusing on prosperity and economic development and jobs, so you try and split those people away from Boko Haram and the fighters and those who are determined to pursue this very misguided cause with the gun and through terrorist activities.  There is no solution for those people other than a military solution and I’m sure that Britain and other countries, countries nearby too, ought to be able to assist Nigeria in that objective.

DM: What do you think about the coverage in this country, the speed of reaction to the scale of what’s gone on here?  I was talking to Bonnie Greer who you’ll know well, saying what she thinks, that it’s because it’s Africa, because these children, that these young women are Nigerian that there hasn’t been as much coverage. She contrasted it with the disappearance of Flight MH370.

ANDREW MITCHELL: I think it’s a very good contrast.  Every day quite rightly we have seen the coverage on the hunt to find out what happened to the plane and what happened in this awful tragedy for the people who died in the plane.  Britain has been part of that search with ships and submarines and so on and that’s absolutely right. This is a very similar number of people and they are the future of Nigeria, this is an assault on all of our values, this kidnapping of so many young girls on the threshold of making a real contribution to Nigerian life and frankly I’m astonished that the international press, the international media haven’t taken a far greater interest in this awful event than they have.

DM: Just finally, Mr Mitchell, while you’re with us, can I just ask you about your own future?  We all know about the events at the gates of Downing Street,  when you hope that’s satisfied to your own satisfaction would you see yourself having another senior job in government being offered to you?

ANDREW MITCHELL: Well it’s no secret that I am keen to return to front line politics when that is possible and I am very keen indeed to try and assist the Prime Minister in winning the next election. 

DM: And that would include ambitions towards a Cabinet post?

ANDREW MITCHELL: I think those decisions are above my pay grade but if you are asking me whether following this appalling event in Downing Street, if you are asking me whether I want to return to frontline politics and help the Prime Minister win the next election, the answer is yes. 

DM: Well okay, that sounds like it is within Westminster.  What about, your name is being put around as the future EU Commissioner for the UK? 

ANDREW MITCHELL: Well these things are way above my pay grade. 

DM: But if asked would you serve in Europe? 

ANDREW MITCHELL: Let’s see how we get on.  I haven’t been asked and I haven’t accepted so that’s not an issue at the moment. 

DM: Okay, Mr Mitchell, thank you very much indeed and in particular for your thoughts there on the situation in Nigeria.  That’s the former International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell.