Grant Shapps, the former defence secretary, has defended the use of a superinjunction to suppress a data breach that led to the UK government relocating 15,000 Afghans. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Shapps said the measure was 'entirely justified' to save lives.
The superinjunction was imposed after personal information about 18,700 Afghans who had applied to come to the UK was leaked by a British defence official in early 2022. The database also included details of more than 100 Britons, including members of the SAS and MI6.
Shapps, who was defence secretary from August 2023 to July 2024, said his focus was on 'sorting out the mess and saving lives' and ensuring systems were in place to prevent such leaks. He added that he would rather explain the need for a superinjunction than explain why he failed to act and people were murdered.
The superinjunction lapsed on Tuesday after a high court judge concluded the threat to the Afghans was no longer significant. Parliament's intelligence and security committee (ISC) has said it will scrutinise the incident, and its chair, Lord Beamish, raised 'serious constitutional issues' over the secrecy.
Shapps expressed support for publishing the intelligence assessment that formed the basis of the superinjunction, but noted the sensitivity of the information. He also said he was 'surprised' the order remained in place for so long, though he believed it saved lives.
