Andrew Defty
@adefty.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Politics, University of Lincoln. Parliament, the intelligence services, a little bit of social policy.
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
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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
October 30, 2025 at 8:18 AM
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
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
October 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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.”
October 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
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.
October 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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.
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 😂😂
October 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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
October 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
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
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.
September 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
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.
Just dropped through my letterbox - a great special edition of @intnatsecjournal.bsky.social on women in intelligence
September 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Just dropped through my letterbox - a great special edition of @intnatsecjournal.bsky.social on women in intelligence
Reposting my blogpost from November 2024 - What does the British public think about another Trump Presidency? whorunsbritain.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2024/11/08/w...
September 16, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Reposting my blogpost from November 2024 - What does the British public think about another Trump Presidency? whorunsbritain.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2024/11/08/w...
In relation to the dropping of charges in the Chinese espionage case, a robust call for enhanced powers for the Intelligence & Security Committee from former member Mark Pritchard.
September 16, 2025 at 6:52 AM
In relation to the dropping of charges in the Chinese espionage case, a robust call for enhanced powers for the Intelligence & Security Committee from former member Mark Pritchard.
The Speaker’s statement about the CPS decision to withdraw charges against two individuals under the Official Secrets Act in relation to Chinese espionage in Parliament. He’s not happy. hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
September 16, 2025 at 6:51 AM
The Speaker’s statement about the CPS decision to withdraw charges against two individuals under the Official Secrets Act in relation to Chinese espionage in Parliament. He’s not happy. hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
Always a special day, graduation with a great bunch of colleagues from Social and Political Sciences at Lincoln.
September 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Always a special day, graduation with a great bunch of colleagues from Social and Political Sciences at Lincoln.
Doing some tidying up in the office. Came across this CIA flyer on diversity and inclusion which I picked up at a CIA careers stand in the US a few years ago. I guess they don’t hand these out anymore. 😕
August 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Doing some tidying up in the office. Came across this CIA flyer on diversity and inclusion which I picked up at a CIA careers stand in the US a few years ago. I guess they don’t hand these out anymore. 😕
A few days in Bruges, took a short ride out to the small town of Sluis just across the Dutch border. Sluis was liberated by Canadian forces on 1 November 1944 but at a terrible cost, the town’s moving war memorial lists the names and ages of those who died in the bombardment of the town.
August 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A few days in Bruges, took a short ride out to the small town of Sluis just across the Dutch border. Sluis was liberated by Canadian forces on 1 November 1944 but at a terrible cost, the town’s moving war memorial lists the names and ages of those who died in the bombardment of the town.
Continuing my summer reading on early modern intelligence with Postal Intelligence by @rmidura.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Continuing my summer reading on early modern intelligence with Postal Intelligence by @rmidura.bsky.social
More holiday reading, I’ve been looking forward to reading this for a while - Intelligence and espionage in the English Republic 1600 - 60 by Alan Marshall, with some great cover art - The Hired Assassins by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier, from the Wallace Collection #ArtofSpying
August 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
More holiday reading, I’ve been looking forward to reading this for a while - Intelligence and espionage in the English Republic 1600 - 60 by Alan Marshall, with some great cover art - The Hired Assassins by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier, from the Wallace Collection #ArtofSpying
The Sunday Telegraph’s report on Stella Rimington’s appointment as D-G of MI5 in December 1991.
August 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The Sunday Telegraph’s report on Stella Rimington’s appointment as D-G of MI5 in December 1991.
In the Scottish Borders, some holiday reading.
July 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
In the Scottish Borders, some holiday reading.
The Intelligence and Security Committee will be conducting an inquiry into the Afghan data breach
July 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The Intelligence and Security Committee will be conducting an inquiry into the Afghan data breach
My employer is using the ugly compound word 'rightsizing' to describe the closing of building and the compression of office and teaching space. I had a look in the OED just so we're clear about what that means...
July 18, 2025 at 10:24 AM
My employer is using the ugly compound word 'rightsizing' to describe the closing of building and the compression of office and teaching space. I had a look in the OED just so we're clear about what that means...
Afghan leak intelligence was hidden from MPs - from today’s @thetimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Afghan leak intelligence was hidden from MPs - from today’s @thetimes.com
Defence Minister, Lord Coaker, in @UKHouseofLords yesterday “I would think that the Intelligence and Security Committee, given the way in which it operates, should have everything made available to it so that it can consider it and, where necessary, question Ministers and others”
July 17, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Defence Minister, Lord Coaker, in @UKHouseofLords yesterday “I would think that the Intelligence and Security Committee, given the way in which it operates, should have everything made available to it so that it can consider it and, where necessary, question Ministers and others”
Intelligence and Security Committee issued an important clarification to former Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace’s comments on yesterday’s @BBCr4today regarding the committee’s powers. Confusion about ISC status & powers is not uncommon. #superinjunction isc.independent.gov.uk
July 17, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Intelligence and Security Committee issued an important clarification to former Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace’s comments on yesterday’s @BBCr4today regarding the committee’s powers. Confusion about ISC status & powers is not uncommon. #superinjunction isc.independent.gov.uk