APPARENTLY, the Afghanistan parliament has rejected 17 of the 24 nominations made by the president for people to be cabinet ministers.

Among those rejected was a gentleman who was described as “Warlord and Energy Minister”, which seems to be a wide-ranging portfolio.

In Britain we keep saying that young people have little interest in politics, but the adoption of titles such as warlord could stimulate matters.

However, I have tried to envisage Jack Straw as “Warlord and Justice Secretary” and for some reason it doesn’t quite work.

Martin Birtle, Billingham.