Former defence minister James Heappey has claimed he was misled over the eligibility of hundreds of Afghan special forces soldiers, known as 'the Triples', to be brought to safety in the UK. Heappey, who oversaw the cover-up of a major data breach that put up to 100,000 Afghans at risk, apologised and admitted 'we let the country down'.
In an interview with The Independent, Heappey said he repeatedly pushed within the Ministry of Defence for clarification on the Triples' status, but was briefed incorrectly by senior officials and military personnel. 'It is hugely frustrating that proved to be wrong,' he stated. The Triples, who fought alongside British forces, were abandoned in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
The data breach occurred in February 2022 when an official sent an email containing a document with details of 33,000 records, including over 18,000 Afghan applicants for relocation. The government subsequently obtained a superinjunction to prevent reporting on the incident. Heappey described the breach as 'gut-wrenching' and apologised for his role, but said the decision to seek the injunction was not his, pointing to defence secretaries Grant Shapps and Ben Wallace, and former prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Heappey noted that around half of the commandos initially identified for relocation were affected by the breach. By early 2024, it became clear that MoD decision-making on the Triples was flawed and required review, with many expected to be deemed eligible. He also expressed frustration that the system was overwhelmed by illegal arrivals, hindering the resettlement of legal Afghan claims.
