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Secret Afghan Resettlement Scheme Sparks Row in British Government

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The British government's secret Afghan resettlement scheme, known as Operation Rubific, has sparked a row between defense minister James Heappey and other senior ministers. The scheme, which aimed to bring thousands of Afghans to the UK, was shrouded in secrecy due to a super-injunction that prevented any reporting of the controversy. Despite objections from several ministers, including Sir James Cleverly, Suella Braverman, and Michael Gove, the scheme went ahead, with the government committing to spend £7 billion to resettle 24,000 people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The secret Afghan resettlement scheme, Operation Rubific, was sparked by a data breach that leaked the names of Afghans who had applied for asylum through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap).
  • The scheme was shrouded in secrecy due to a super-injunction that prevented any reporting of the controversy, despite objections from several ministers.
  • Defense minister James Heappey was tasked with running the scheme, but he faced opposition from several ministers, including Sir James Cleverly, Suella Braverman, and Michael Gove.
  • The scheme was criticized for its cost, with some ministers reportedly raising concerns about the potential cost of the scheme, which could run into billions.
  • The row between the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office was eventually settled when Sir James Cleverly agreed to house some Afghan refugees in Home Office-funded asylum hotels and others in buildings provided by the Ministry of Defence.
  • The government has committed to spend £7 billion to resettle 24,000 people, despite concerns about the costs and logistics of the scheme.

Statistics:

  • The data breach that sparked the scheme leaked the names of 18,900 Afghans who had applied for asylum.
  • The government has committed to spending £7 billion to resettle 24,000 people.
  • The scheme aims to resettle nearly 100,000 people once family members are taken into account.
  • The Ministry of Defence reportedly set a high bar for eligibility, with those known to have Taliban connections being crossed off the list.
  • The row between the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office was eventually settled when Sir James Cleverly agreed to house some Afghan refugees in Home Office-funded asylum hotels and others in buildings provided by the Ministry of Defence.

Sources:

  • https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/15/operation-rubific-secret-government-plan-resettle-thousands-afghan/
  • https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/secret-scheme-to-bring-thousands-of-afghans-to-britain-loads
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-60534318

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