THE SNP has urged the Westminster government to give immediate refuge to the interpreters whose data was leaked by a civil servant.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) employee has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the leak, which happened last night.

An email was sent to intepreters, however all of those awaiting resettlement in the UK were copied in to the message, meaning everyone's details - including names and photographs in some cases - were visible. 

Around 250 people are thought to have been affected, with the MoD advising them to change their email addresses and delete the email immediately.

However MPs have warned the blunder could cost lives, and Ben Wallace, defence secretary, said he was enraged by the mistake and apologised in the Commons.

Now the SNP's home affairs spokesman Stuart McDonald has called for the 250 people to be given asylum in the UK urgently.

He said: "It was essential that the UK government increased its support for Afghan refugees during the withdrawal process. However, their failure to do so has left thousands of people stranded and fearing for their lives.
 
“This data breach is just the latest in a long list of errors by not only the MOD, but by the Tory government – but could sadly be one of the costliest.

The MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East said Boris Johnson must "offer every Afghan interpreter who’s information has been leaked asylum here in the United Kingdom."

He said: "It is our fault that their lives are now in danger – therefore it is our responsibility to rescue them.  

“In time, Boris Johnson and the MOD will have serious questions to answer about their role in this foreign policy disaster. That is why the SNP has called for a judge-led inquiry on the withdrawal process and are now supporting calls for an independent inquiry into this data breach.

“Scotland stands ready to do its part by welcoming any vulnerable Afghan refugee who seeks asylum on these shores and wants to rebuild their lives here.”