Ben Wallace makes ‘no apology’ for Afghan gagging order

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace mentioned he makes “no apology” for stopping the reporting of a leak that exposed information about hundreds of Afghans who had supported British forces.

Writing within the Telegraph, Sir Ben mentioned the choice to use for an injunction was “not a cover-up”.

In February 2022, the small print of practically 19,000 individuals who had utilized to maneuver to the UK underneath the Afghan Relocations and Help Coverage (Arap) have been leaked. The earlier authorities realized of the breach in August 2023 when some particulars have been posted on Fb.

Sir Ben mentioned when he was knowledgeable of the error he was “decided that the primary precedence was to guard all people who may be in danger”.

“Some might disagree however think about if the Taliban had been alerted to the existence of this listing. I might dread to assume what would have occurred,” he added.

A brand new resettlement scheme – the Afghanistan Response Route – was arrange in April 2024 for these on the leaked listing. About 4,500 Afghans have arrived within the UK thus far.

The scheme is known to have value round £400m, with a projected remaining value of about £850m.

Particulars of the main information breach, the response and the variety of Afghans granted the fitting to dwell within the UK because of this solely got here to gentle on Tuesday after a Excessive Courtroom choose dominated the gagging order must be lifted.

The leak contained the names, contact particulars and a few household info of individuals probably susceptible to hurt from the Taliban.

The daughter of an Afghan translator whose particulars have been leaked instructed the BBC’s Newsnight programme that her entire household “panicked”.

“Nobody is aware of the place the information has been despatched to – it could possibly be despatched to the Taliban, they may have their fingers on it,” she mentioned.

Her grandmother, who continues to be in Afghanistan, is “fully susceptible”, she added.

Downing Avenue wouldn’t affirm whether or not the official chargeable for the leak had confronted disciplinary motion, with a spokesman saying they might not touch upon people.

Talking within the commons on Tuesday, Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned the individual concerned within the leak was “now not doing the identical job”, and supplied a “honest apology” on behalf of the federal government.

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has additionally apologised on behalf of her get together.

Former Conservative chief Sir Iain Duncan Smith mentioned Parliament ought to have been knowledgeable in regards to the leak.

He instructed the BBC’s World Tonight: “Parliament can’t be ignored for that size of time, we owe an obligation to the general public to a minimum of have examined this.”