Ed Davey calls for public inquiry into Afghan data leak and unprecedented superinjunction
EMBARGO: Immediate Release
Ed Davey has called for a public inquiry into the MOD data leak that put at risk the lives of up to 25,000 Afghans who supported the British campaign in Afghanistan, and the unprecedented superinjunction used to keep it hidden from the public for years.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised the Conservatives’ cloak-and-dagger efforts to protect Ministers’ identities via an unprecedented 600-day superinjunction, only revealed following a concerted effort by the British media to bring the details into the public domain.
The party’s leader, Ed Davey, has called for an urgent public inquiry – to report by the end of the year - which would allow for the level of scrutiny appropriate to the “size and significance" of the data breach and subsequent Government efforts to keep the details hidden from public view.
This follows comments made by High Court Judge Martin Chamberlain who, after lifting the order Tuesday, said it was "fundamentally objectionable for decisions that affect the lives and safety of thousands of human beings, and involve the commitment of billions of pounds of public money, to be taken in circumstances where they are completely insulated from public debate."
Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Leader, said:
“It’s catastrophic that a security breach of this size and significance - with potentially lethal consequences for Afghans who bravely supported the British campaign in Afghanistan - could occur at the MoD under the Conservatives’ watch.
“The scale and length of the superinjunction used to cover up the Ministers who oversaw this scandal - as well as the potentially enormous cost to the taxpayer - is unprecedented. The British media should never have been forced to go to court to shed light on this scandal.
“Keir Starmer must launch a full public inquiry - to report by the end of this year - to ensure no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of answers. Such scrutiny is well overdue.”
ENDS
