Andrew Defty

The Skripal poisonings – have British spies learned the lessons? Rusia's ability to target a defector with nerve agent is almost certainly diminished but it may pose other threats, the BBC's security correspondent writes.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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In my intelligence module, Vigilant State, I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week we’re discussing counterintelligence. I’ve selected ‘The Spy’ by Alphonse de Neuville (1880). Captured spies are a common theme in art on intelligence, I find this one quite moving #ArtofSpying

The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists

Wondering once again if the wholesale dismantling of modern languages in U.K. universities is a national security issue.
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...

I managed to spend a little bit of time in the library today 🧐 #ArtofSpying

The highlight of our Houses of Parliament-approved Parliamentary Studies module is the annual site visit for students. One of many reasons why our Politics programme is ranked #7 in the Guardian rankings. Many thanks to @adefty.bsky.social for leading & I hope all our students enjoyed their visit.

A privilege to take Lincoln Parliamentary Studies students to Parliament today. A great opportunity to learn about Parliament in the building and from those who work there.

Current reading #ArtofSpying

Preparations for D-Day image: A coastal scene looking out to sea with an island on the left horizon. In the central foreground tanks line up for loading on board ship, through gaping red metal doors opening into a dark hold...

Aside from the broader point, lots of security measures depicted in Eurich’s painting - more details in catalogue entry here www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Each week I share artwork with students on my intelligence module. This week's topic is intelligence failure. I've chosen Preparations for D-Day (1944) by Richard Eurich from the Imperial War Museum a reminder that intel success for one side may be failure for another #ArtofSpying

Each year I get my Parliamentary Studies students to write questions as if for PMQs. When we look at them in class, in order to demonstrate bad questions I have to intersperse them with recents questions from real PMQs.

With Police and Crime Commissioners heading for the history books it’s a good time to revisit my blogpost written following the first PCC elections in 2012 - Was the election of Police and Crime Commissioners the most expensive election in history? whorunsbritain.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2014/11/01/w...

Each week I share with students on my intelligence module, Vigilant State, an artwork relating to that week’s topic. This week we were discussing intelligence analysis and I selected ‘Road to Baghdad’ (1996) by Elwyn Lynn from the AustralianWar Memorial art collection #ArtofSpying

Continuing to collect artworks relating to intelligence. Struck by these from Australian War Memorial ‘Two types: Imperial and Colonial Intelligence Officer’ (1901) by Norman Hardy & untitled portrait of a member of the Australian Intelligence Corps, Afghanistan (2013) by Campbell Myers #ArtofSpying

Tributes paid to ex-Lincoln MP and Lib Dems founding member Dick Taverne Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey described him as

Sad to hear of the death of former Lincoln MP, Dick Taverne. Labour MP for Lincoln from 1962 to 1972, after stepping down as a Labour MP won two elections (1973 and February 1974) standing as an independent Democratic Labour MP. Liberal Democrat peer since 1996. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What a great day’s teaching - comparing “INTS” in my intelligence module and students’ Private Members’ Bill ballot in Parliamentary Studies.

I’m again sharing artworks with students on my intelligence module Vigilant State. I now have more paintings than topics but this week we’re discussing intelligence collection and I’ll find space for Burton Silverman’s portrait of “Emil Goldfus” aka Soviet illegal Rudolf Abel. #ArtofSpying

Intelligence & Security Committee press notice. The ISC will be looking at the intelligence underpinning the Chinese spying prosecution but makes clear “the CPS does not fall within the remit of the ISC, and the Committee will not therefore be considering the actions of the CPS.”

Midway between writing chapters for two books one on social policy under Starmer’s Labour government, the second on the Conservatives under Truss and Sunak. My head is starting to spin, wishing I’d tackled them in chronological order.

Professor of Intelligence Studies (110902-1025) at University of Warwick Discover Professor of Intelligence Studies (110902-1025) jobs and more in higher education on jobs.ac.uk. Apply for further details on the top job board.

University of Warwick are looking for a Professor of Intelligence Studies www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOZ241/p...

Thousands more university jobs cut as financial crisis deepens University workers will vote on national strike action this month over a 1.4% pay offer made in the summer.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It’s good to see some of our students, current and former, in today’s Daily Telegraph enjoying themselves at the Conservative Party conference. The great woke indoctrination at U.K. universities is going well 😂😂

It's too early to know and investigations will quite properly follow into what was and was not known about the Manchester attacker. It is the first seminar of my intelligence module tomorrow and I'll be starting with this from @bricksilk.bsky.social following a previous attack in Manchester

For anyone who's published a book. (Source: www.alcs.co.uk/news/the-lat...)

"There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25..."

🔎 Times are changing — and so are we. The King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence is now on Instagram.

Follow for insights on intelligence, security, and global affairs, plus highlights from our research, events, and teaching.

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Terry Farrell, architect who designed MI6 building, dies aged 87 He also designed the headquarters for ITV's 80s breakfast show TV-am, with giant eggcups on the roof.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In one of his less well known roles, Menzies Campbell was a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee from 2008-2015, a period which saw significant reform of the committee. Here he is in 2011 advocating more power for the ISC in the annual House of Commons ISC debate.

The Annual Welcome Week Lecture of School of Social & Political Sciences, Uni of Lincoln, this year is delivered by Dr Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social. His subject is Bridging Two Cultures: what’s scientific about the social sciences?

Just dropped through my letterbox - a great special edition of @intnatsecjournal.bsky.social on women in intelligence