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Politics Weekly UK

Why was the government allowed to keep the Afghan data breach secret?

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.01.4K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The revelation that the government concealed a huge story about the resettlement of people from Afghanistan after their lives were put at risk by a data breach has left Westminster reeling. So why was it allowed to be kept secret for so long? And what could the fallout be? The Guardian’s political correspondent Kiran Stacey joins John Harris to discuss. Plus, Harris speaks to Ed Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, about his plans to tackle the climate crisis, why it’s becoming a culture war issue, and how to combat that. And, what does the public really think about net zero? Harris asks Sophie Stowers, a pollster from More in Common. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is The Guardian.

0:10.1

Hello, Jonathan Friedland here,

0:12.4

host of the Guardian's Politics Weekly America podcast.

0:15.7

Has Donald Trump been quietly building a political dynasty

0:19.8

to rival that of the Kennedys?

0:22.6

That's the question I'm answering in a new three-part special series.

0:27.6

Why did Ivanka and Jared step back from political life?

0:31.7

Is Don Jr. the obvious successor?

0:34.4

Or could the silent Maga favourite, Baron, be a dark horse?

0:39.5

In this series, I speak to the people who've spent time with members of Donald Trump's family,

0:44.1

getting their take on who helped him get to the White House and who might take over once he leaves.

0:49.7

Just search for Politics Weekly America wherever you listen to your podcasts.

1:02.0

This week, one news story has left people really. The Westminster establishment,

1:07.6

it seems, concealed a huge story about the resettlement of people from

1:11.0

Afghanistan, with the bills stretching into the billions.

1:14.6

A major data breach, a super injunction, a secret route that has already cost hundreds of

1:21.3

millions of pounds.

1:24.1

Ministers who served under the party opposite have serious questions to answer about how this was ever allowed to happen.

1:30.3

So why was the government allowed to keep this as secret?

1:34.3

And in searing summer heat, the climate crisis is now at the centre of the culture wars.

1:39.3

To those who say, Britain cannot make a difference. I say you are wrong. Stop talking our country down.

1:52.0

How are we going to live with extreme weather and what can be done about increasingly loud voices challenging the very future of net zero?

...

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