He helped us, we must help him

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [The Independent]( April 20, 2023 [View online](   [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Harry’s wounded hero marine: Don’t deport Afghan pilot who fought with UK forces to Rwanda]( A former marine commando hailed a hero by Prince Harry has backed our campaign to grant asylum to an Afghan war pilot facing deportation to Rwanda. Ben McBean, who became a double amputee after being critically injured on a 2008 tour in Afghanistan, said he couldn’t see why “anyone would have an issue” with Afghan veterans being given a new home in Britain. [The Independent]( wants the government to allow the pilot – who arrived on a small boat after he was unable to find a safe legal route – to remain in the UK. He has been threatened with removal to Rwanda and is desperate that his young family are brought to safety from the Taliban. The former head of the army, General[Lord Richard Dannatt, First Sea Lord Admiral West,]( and former head of Nato Lord Robertson are among those who have backed the campaign. Marine McBean, who was described as a “hero” by Prince Harry after they shared a flight home from Afghanistan, told The Independent: “It is hard to take any positives from Britain’s time in Afghanistan.” “We were trying to help and there were some good stories, but the reality is we are just back to square one – in fact, the situation in Afghanistan may be even worse”, he continued. “It is sad to say but I can’t take any positives from it. What would be a positive is if someone who helped us was able to settle here and live a normal life.”   2 / [Interest rates set to hit 5 per cent in blow to homeowners as double digit inflation persists]( The shock figure also raised questions about Rishi Sunak’s promise to halve inflation by the end of the year 3 /[SNP treasurer Colin Beattie quits as party fears Sturgeon could be arrested next]( Senior members of the SNP fear that Ms Sturgeon could be the next figure to be arrested in the Police Scotland investigation 4 /[Russian ships ‘plotting sabotage in the North Sea’]( Investigation uncovers alleged plans aimed at knocking out communications and energy infrastructure 5 /[Erling Haaland highlights gap between Man City and Bayern Munich but ‘true final’ beckons]( Bayern Munich 1-1 Man City (1-4 agg): Haaland atoned for a missed penalty and now a mouthwatering semi-final against Real Madrid awaits THE BIG QUESTION [UK inflation: Why are food prices rising so much?]( Soaring food and drinks prices kept UK inflation in double-figures last month and continue to weigh hard on household budgets. More expensive bread, cereal and chocolate all led to the overall average price of food and non-alcoholic drinks to increase 19.1 per cent in the year to March according to data from the Office for National Statistics. This is the sharpest 12-month increase since August 1977. Price rises have partly been linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which forced the cost of export products including vegetable oils and grains higher. Recent fruit and vegetable shortages, due to poor weather conditions in North Africa and Spain, also contributed to inflation, according to the ONS. Retailers and wholesalers have had to pay more for tomatoes, peppers and salad, which have been in short supply. The figures are based on the CPI (Consumer Prices Index) measure of inflation and have been published by the ONS. 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