Grant Shapps defends Afghan data leak superinjunction that gagged media for two years
Ex-defence secretary says Afghan data leak superinjunction ‘saved lives’
- Grant Shapps, the former defence secretary, has defended the government's decision to conceal a catastrophic Afghan data leak from the public, asserting it “saved lives”.
- The leak, caused by a Ministry of Defence official in February 2022, exposed details of 16,000 Afghans seeking refuge in the UK due to Taliban threats, leading to their evacuation.
- It also revealed the names of over 100 British government personnel, including MI6 spies, SAS members, MPs, and ministers.
- Shapps justified keeping the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) uninformed, stating that wider disclosure could jeopardise lives, a stance criticised by the ISC chairman who cited "serious constitutional issues".
- Despite the two-year superinjunction preventing publication, Shapps maintained he would repeat the decision to protect lives.