Context:

Sir Ben Wallace defended his decision to seek an injunction to stop the reporting of a data leak involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who supported British forces, emphasizing the need to protect those at risk. The leak, discovered in August 2023, included sensitive information potentially endangering individuals if accessed by the Taliban, prompting the creation of the Afghanistan Response Route in 2024 to relocate affected Afghans to the UK. Approximately 4,500 Afghans have been resettled under this scheme, which is projected to cost up to £850 million. The breach came to public attention after a High Court judge lifted the gagging order, revealing that the individual responsible for the leak is no longer in the same role. Apologies were issued by government officials, including Defence Secretary John Healey and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, while some MPs criticized the lack of parliamentary oversight on the matter.

Dive Deeper:

• In February 2022, sensitive information about nearly 19,000 Afghans who applied for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy was leaked, but the breach was only discovered in August 2023 when some details appeared on Facebook.

• Sir Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, justified his decision to apply for an injunction to prevent the leak's details from being reported, stating it was crucial to protect those at risk from potential Taliban threats.

• The Afghanistan Response Route was established in April 2024 to facilitate the relocation of Afghans affected by the leak, with about 4,500 having been resettled in the UK so far, at a projected cost that might reach £850 million.

• The High Court lifted a gagging order that had kept the breach and the resettlement scheme secret, leading to public disclosure and discussions about the incident and its implications.

• Following the revelation, Defence Secretary John Healey and other government officials issued apologies, acknowledging the impact of the breach and the delay in informing Parliament, while the official responsible for the leak has been removed from their position.

• Concerns were raised by the daughter of an Afghan translator whose family's details were leaked, highlighting the potential risks they faced if the information had reached the Taliban, and expressing fear for relatives still in Afghanistan.

• Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith criticized the government's handling of the situation, stressing the importance of keeping Parliament informed to fulfill its duty to the public.