Richard Holmes
@richardholmes.bsky.social
Multi-award winning investigative reporter at The i Paper. Regularly writing about national security and espionage both at home and abroad.
Hit me up: richard.holmes@inews.co.uk
Hit me up: richard.holmes@inews.co.uk
The committee found that the UK has “extremely large expenditure commitments” on defence, “without clear plans for how government will pay for them” in findings from its annual report.
October 15, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The committee found that the UK has “extremely large expenditure commitments” on defence, “without clear plans for how government will pay for them” in findings from its annual report.
One former MoD official said there was “a lot of argument internally” over who “should and shouldn’t be coming back” to the UK.
A military intel source said vetting was little more than “sending the list out to blokes in-country [Afghanistan] and asking what they think”.
A military intel source said vetting was little more than “sending the list out to blokes in-country [Afghanistan] and asking what they think”.
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
One former MoD official said there was “a lot of argument internally” over who “should and shouldn’t be coming back” to the UK.
A military intel source said vetting was little more than “sending the list out to blokes in-country [Afghanistan] and asking what they think”.
A military intel source said vetting was little more than “sending the list out to blokes in-country [Afghanistan] and asking what they think”.
The most recent data fiasco sparked a scramble to resettle Afghan nationals.
Govt departments and UK intelligence agencies had to work together to decide who to bring to the UK. But the classified nature of the information they were dealing with made it hard to vet individuals.
Govt departments and UK intelligence agencies had to work together to decide who to bring to the UK. But the classified nature of the information they were dealing with made it hard to vet individuals.
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The most recent data fiasco sparked a scramble to resettle Afghan nationals.
Govt departments and UK intelligence agencies had to work together to decide who to bring to the UK. But the classified nature of the information they were dealing with made it hard to vet individuals.
Govt departments and UK intelligence agencies had to work together to decide who to bring to the UK. But the classified nature of the information they were dealing with made it hard to vet individuals.
Also in the report: Insiders said Britain’s rushed effort to resettle Afghan nationals in the wake of the leak descended into chaos amid poor planning, internal disputes and questionable vetting over who should be brought into the country.
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Also in the report: Insiders said Britain’s rushed effort to resettle Afghan nationals in the wake of the leak descended into chaos amid poor planning, internal disputes and questionable vetting over who should be brought into the country.
The source, who helped manage the fallout from the leak while at the MoD, warned the incident represented the “eroding” importance placed on data protection and operational security at the department.
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The source, who helped manage the fallout from the leak while at the MoD, warned the incident represented the “eroding” importance placed on data protection and operational security at the department.
A former senior military source said the decision, along with a reduced understanding of IT, paved the way for a defence official to mistakenly leak a list containing the personal information of nearly 19,000 Afghans, putting lives at risk.
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
A former senior military source said the decision, along with a reduced understanding of IT, paved the way for a defence official to mistakenly leak a list containing the personal information of nearly 19,000 Afghans, putting lives at risk.
MoD systems used to block emails sent outside its secure network unless the sender typed “Release/Authorised” into the subject line.
The measure was intended to protect against accidental leaks, but it was abandoned in 2018 after staff complained it was “inconvenient”.
The measure was intended to protect against accidental leaks, but it was abandoned in 2018 after staff complained it was “inconvenient”.
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
MoD systems used to block emails sent outside its secure network unless the sender typed “Release/Authorised” into the subject line.
The measure was intended to protect against accidental leaks, but it was abandoned in 2018 after staff complained it was “inconvenient”.
The measure was intended to protect against accidental leaks, but it was abandoned in 2018 after staff complained it was “inconvenient”.
They added that “many” incidents witnessed on Britain's land, sea, air, and screen are currently being linked to Kremlin-backed operations.
Full report here: inews.co.uk/news/nato-un...
Full report here: inews.co.uk/news/nato-un...
Nato unit helping combat Putin's 'hybrid warfare' threat on British soil
From arson to cyber attacks, the UK faces an unprecedented threat from Russia
inews.co.uk
July 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
They added that “many” incidents witnessed on Britain's land, sea, air, and screen are currently being linked to Kremlin-backed operations.
Full report here: inews.co.uk/news/nato-un...
Full report here: inews.co.uk/news/nato-un...
A NATO official said these hybrid tactics are meant to create “a creeping sense of instability” and to “undermine the public’s trust in their institutions and governments.”
July 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
A NATO official said these hybrid tactics are meant to create “a creeping sense of instability” and to “undermine the public’s trust in their institutions and governments.”
Intelligence officials have warned the Kremlin may be laying the groundwork for future sabotage operations against critical national infrastructure.
Think undersea cables, energy grids, transport.
Think undersea cables, energy grids, transport.
July 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Intelligence officials have warned the Kremlin may be laying the groundwork for future sabotage operations against critical national infrastructure.
Think undersea cables, energy grids, transport.
Think undersea cables, energy grids, transport.
NATO’s innovation, hybrid and cyber division is working with the UK to help stop cyber attacks, and investigate the Kremlin’s role in sabotage and disinformation campaigns.
July 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
NATO’s innovation, hybrid and cyber division is working with the UK to help stop cyber attacks, and investigate the Kremlin’s role in sabotage and disinformation campaigns.