Ben Wallace says he makes 'no apology' for Afghan injunction

Former Defense Secretary Sir Ben Wallace defended his decision to seek an injunction to stop the reporting of a data leak exposing thousands of Afghans who supported British forces. The leak, which occurred in August 2023 and was discovered in February 2022, revealed details of individuals applying to move to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap). Sir Ben emphasized the importance of protecting those at risk, highlighting the potential consequences if the Taliban had gained access to the leaked list. The incident led to the establishment of a new resettlement scheme in April 2024, facilitating the arrival of around 4,500 Afghans in the UK at a projected cost of £850 million.