Why was a superinjunction put on the Afghan evacuation story and what did it do?
The term 'superinjunction' may be familiar to people who paid attention to the news in the 2010s, thanks to their deployment by several high-profile figures who wanted to stop people reading about their private lives.
It is a court order a step above an injunction, which is used to stop details of the case being published in public.
In a case with a superinjunction, not even the existence of the injunction can be made public.
These orders are powerful enough when used by an individual. The use of one by the government to keep the entire UK in the dark is unprecedented.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money was spent without the public's knowledge, to bring a large number of individuals to the UK from Afghanistan without anyone being allowed to learn why.
Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here.
It all stemmed from an accidental data breach in February 2022, which exposed the personal details of more than 18,000 Afghans who had assisted British forces in their fight against the Taliban.
When the government learned about this breach 18 months after it happened, then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace requested an injunction in the courts.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The reason for this, according to court documents, was to 'preserve the confidentiality of the personal information for as long as possible in order that His Majesty's Government may do everything it reasonably can to help those who might have been put at further risk by the data compromise'.
But when the time came for the injunction to be placed, Judge Robin Knowles decided to go a step further. More Trending
He wrote: 'I conclude that it is an environment of no publication that best protects lives, although again the matter must and will be kept under constant review.'
This decision was made for eight reasons listed in the judgement: 'The risk in question is to the lives of many individuals and their families, and of torture.'
The confidentiality of the data was not completely lost, though it had been breached.
The order would create a period of time where the data compromise is 'not known or widely known'.
It would be less likely for the information to fall into the wrong hands during that period.
The period would provide an opportunity for the government to do 'everything it reasonably can' to help those at risk.
The impact on freedom of expression was 'justified in the particular and exceptional circumstances of this case'.
The fact the injunction would probably no longer be needed at some point and be lifted would limit that impact.
The operation and duration of the injunction would be kept under close review.
This order was so stringent, then-shadow Defence Secretary John Healey did not tell his party leader about the situation when he was briefed before last year's election.
Instead, Sir Keir Starmer learned about it after he became Prime Minister.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: What changes in ISAs could mean for you and where you should invest
MORE: Middle class parties hit by lumpy skin disease
MORE: What changes to mortgages for first-time buyers means for you
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Ibiza Rocks hotel where three Brits died still selling party tickets despite suspension
The Ibiza Ricks resort has seen four people die in tragic accidents while staying at the hotel in recent months, with multiple Brits dying in balcony falls The Ibiza hotel where two Brits tragically lost their lives in separate incidents is still flogging party tickets, despite claims they were suspending these events in light of the repeated deadly balcony falls in recent months. Evan Thomson, from Aberdeen, sadly died after falling from his Ibiza Rocks hotel balcony on Monday, July 7. The 26-year-old sadly fell from the sixth floor while away celebrating his birthday. Just a fortnight later, Gary Kelly, a 19-year-old from Dundee, suffered a fatal fall from the third floor of the same establishment just past midnight. These twin tragedies followed two other at the Ibiza Rocks resort, including a 33-year-old British woman who died on April 30, and a female Italian tourist, 19, who fell from a balcony just three days earlier. In the wake of these heartbreaking events, Ibiza Rocks had declared a suspension of all festivities. The hotel expressed its sorrow with the words: "We are deeply shocked and devastated by the recent incidents that have tragically occurred." They continued: "Our priority is to support those affected and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and to fully assist the authorities with their investigations. "The safety and wellbeing of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority. Given the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved, we believe it is right to pause our advertised events programme at this time." Yet, despite these assurances, tickets for upcoming events, including this Saturday's LoveJuice Ibiza Day Party, are still up for grabs online. Ibiza Rocks is asking punters to pay £17.35 for standard entry and £26 for a Daylife pass, which includes a food and drink voucher. The hotel is gearing up for its RandB Affair Day Party this Sunday, tipped to be the island's most epic RandB bash, with entry fees matching those of the previous day's festivities. Dizzee Rascal was scheduled to play at the hotel yesterday as part of the venue's '20th birthday celebrations' but that was postponed. However, Rudimental are still set to perform on July 30 for the anniversary, with tickets still available to purchase online. In the wake of Evan's tragic passing, his family and friends have raised serious concerns about the hotel's safety measures, criticising the establishment's handling of the incident. Evan's mate Blair Robertson blasted the hotel for their eagerness to 'get things back to normal' after the tragedy, reports the Daily Record. He recounted: "Security took us away to front desk. Paramedics didn't arrive for about 30 minutes. Forensic officers didn't speak English. We were just standing there, not knowing what was going on. Reception gave us false hope. "We heard the jet washes cleaning the ground where Evan died. That was the worst thing for us". Evan's sister Teila also called for 'higher safety precautions', stating: "Once it did happen, the hotel's response was just completely heartbreaking; almost as if it never happened. I pray no other family has to go through this." Following the recent fatalities, Ibiza Rocks shared a safety message on their social media, expressing that their thoughts 'remained with the families' of Evan and Gary. They wrote: "The tragic incidents of the past few weeks have deeply affected many. We continue to work closely with the authorities, and our thoughts and support remain with everyone impacted. "Much of the hard work that goes into safety and security in hotels and venues across the world happens behind the scenes. With thousands of guests passing through our doors every summer, it takes a collective effort from our team, security and local partners to maximise safety for all. "In times like these, care matters - but so does action. We have zero tolerance for any behaviour that puts our guests or our team at risk and we are building on the strong work we already do to go even further. "Out of respect and privacy for the people involved, we don't usually comment on individual reports posted online, but that certainly doesn't mean we're not always listening. We're committed to working with anyone who raises solid concerns so that we can establish the facts and take the appropriate steps. "Our hotel remains open and more information on a future events programme will be shared as soon as possible." On the topic of balcony safety, the hotel added: "Balcony safety is something we take very seriously, and our hotel meets all the applicable building regulations. "Alongside that, we're introducing further safety measures and working to raise more guest awareness to help encourage responsible use and keep everyone safe."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Bill Clinton reportedly sent Jeffrey Epstein note for birthday album
Donald Trump apparently isn't the only president that sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. 'The biggest name in the album' was Bill Clinton, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The ex-president's letter appeared alongside nearly 50 others, including other prominent celebrities and executives. Last week, the Journal reported that Trump had authored a 'bawdy' letter to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 after he was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges. The letter was included in an album Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell compiled on the occasion of his 50th birthday in 2003. Trump has sued Rupert Murdoch, two Wall Street Journal newspaper reporters and the newspaper's publisher Dow Jones for libel and slander over the reporting. In Thursday's article, the Wall Street Journal provided additional details on the album, including names of some of the nearly 50 people who wrote to Epstein. They reportedly include billionaire investor Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, billionaire media owner Mortimer Zuckerman, billionaire former Victoria's Secret owner Les Wexner, attorney Alan Dershowitz, model scout Jean-Luc Brunel and billionaire former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold. It also includes the British ambassador to the United States and Labour party politician Peter Mandelson in a section titled 'friends'. Epstein's former co-workers, Alan 'Ace' Greenberg and James 'Jimmy' Cayne, who he worked with at the investment firm Bear Stearns in the 1970s, also sent letters. The New York Times confirmed the Wall Street Journal's reporting on Thursday evening. 'The professionally bound birthday book had multiple volumes and included a table of contents,' the Journal reported. According to the newspaper, Clinton's note to Epstein read: 'It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.' A Clinton spokesperson declined to comment to the Journal, instead referring the paper to a previous statement from the ex-president, saying he had cut ties with Epstein more than a decade before his arrest and was not aware of Epstein's crimes. Trump's letter to Epstein was far from the only note that was sexual in nature, according to documents the Journal reviewed. It describes a poem signed by Black that read 'Blonde, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically / With this net of fish, Jeff's now 'The Old Man and The Sea'', and a note from Wexner that included 'a line drawing of what appeared to be a woman's breasts'. Spokespersons for Black and Wexner declined the Journal's request for comment. A letter from Wang suggested Epstein star on The Bachelor. Wang did not respond to the Journal's requests for comment. And a note from Myhrvold promised photographs from a recent trip to Africa: 'They seemed more appropriate than anything I could put in words.' The images included 'a monkey screaming, lions and zebras mating, and a zebra with its penis visible', the Journal reported. A spokesperson for Myhrvold told the Journal the former Microsoft executive did not recall the submission, only knew Epstein as a donor to scientific research, and that he 'regularly shares photos of and writes about animal behavior'. The letter from Mandelson 'included photos of whiskey and a tropical island', the Journal reported. Mandelson referred to Epstein as 'my best pal' in the note. A spokesperson for Mandelson declined to comment to the Journal. As for the relationship between Trump and Epstein, the Times found that at least once before, Trump had written Epstein an admiring note. 'To Jeff — You are the greatest!' reads an inscription in a copy of Trump's book Trump: the Art of the Comeback, which belonged to Epstein. The message, reviewed by the Times, is signed 'Donald' and dated 'Oct 97' – the month the book came out. The Times also reviewed a previously undisclosed photo of Trump and Epstein with the singer James Brown. It is not clear where the photo was taken. Brown frequently performed in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where Trump owned the Taj Mahal casino.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Four in 10 feel Muslim immigrants have negative impact on UK, polling suggests
The findings have been described by an imam as 'deeply worrying', and showing 'high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment' in Britain. The polling was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ahead of a gathering for what it described as the UK's biggest Muslim convention – the Jalsa Salana – this weekend in Hampshire, expected to be attended by 40,000 followers of the faith. This year's convention is 'opening its doors to sceptics of Islam and those with any questions about the faith', organisers said – noting that two Reform UK voters are due to attend to hear about the religion. The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK. While 41% said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups. Around 15% felt this way about Hindu immigrants, 14% about Sikh immigrants, 13% about Jewish immigrants and 7% about Christian immigrants. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated. Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged Labour colleagues to acknowledge people's 'real concerns', pointing out that immigration was one of a number of factors having a 'profound impact on society', as she updated Cabinet on her work on social cohesion. Some 53% of those polled said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25% said it is and 22% said they did not know. Sabah Ahmedi, aged 30 and known as 'the young imam' online – where he has a large following, said he believes fear among people 'stems from a lack of understanding of Islam'. He said: 'These findings are deeply worrying, revealing high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country. 'As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs. It is unfair and unjust considering that the vast majority of Muslim immigrants to the UK are contributing positively.' He encouraged people to 'meet Muslims to see we are not a threat' and urged the media to 'play a role as well'. He added: 'Instead of focusing on the tiny minority of Muslim immigrants who cause harm, focus on the majority who are on the frontlines serving the NHS, our armed forces, the police, educational institutes and the like. 'We love this country and cherish its values of freedom and tolerance.' The Union flag will be raised at this weekend's gathering 'alongside the Islamic flag of our community, to symbolise that love of our faith and country go hand in hand', he said. The survey findings also indicated younger people were less likely to feel Muslim immigrants have a negative impact and that Islam is incompatible with British values. Mr Ahmedi said he was 'encouraged by these findings that seem to show that the younger generation is more open-minded and that I hope it indicates a brighter future where Muslims are not considered a threat but an asset to this society'. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK is mostly made up of people and their descendants who generally fled Pakistan in the 1980s in the face of religious persecution. Members said they now face challenges and discrimination in the UK, from some Muslims who do not agree with their version of the faith and from other people who have subjected them to racist bullying because of their Pakistani ethnicity. A Government spokesperson said: 'British Muslims have played an integral role in shaping modern Britain and have long contributed across every part of our national life. 'Nobody should face hatred, intolerance or feel unwelcome as a result of their faith or belief – and we are committed to tackling anti-Muslim hate in all its forms.'
