Andrew Defty
@adefty.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Politics, University of Lincoln. Parliament, the intelligence services, a little bit of social policy.
I have a short comment piece on the need for a more joined-up approach to intelligence oversight in Baltic Rim Economies special issue on intelligence and foresight. There are also some great pieces by others in there which are really worth reading www.centrumbalticum.org/en/publicati...
January 22, 2026 at 5:57 PM
I have a short comment piece on the need for a more joined-up approach to intelligence oversight in Baltic Rim Economies special issue on intelligence and foresight. There are also some great pieces by others in there which are really worth reading www.centrumbalticum.org/en/publicati...
Minor point re. operation of the ISC. ISC has not usually named a Deputy Chair but appointment of a member of House of Lords as the ISC Chair means Deputy Chair needed in order to speak for the committee in the Commons. From Tuesday’s Commons debate on Chinese Embassy:
January 22, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Minor point re. operation of the ISC. ISC has not usually named a Deputy Chair but appointment of a member of House of Lords as the ISC Chair means Deputy Chair needed in order to speak for the committee in the Commons. From Tuesday’s Commons debate on Chinese Embassy:
Intelligence and Security Committee statement on the Chinese Embassy. ISC is content that security implications can be mitigated, but raises broader concerns about lack of clarity regarding how national security considerations feed into planning isc.independent.gov.uk
January 22, 2026 at 8:12 AM
Intelligence and Security Committee statement on the Chinese Embassy. ISC is content that security implications can be mitigated, but raises broader concerns about lack of clarity regarding how national security considerations feed into planning isc.independent.gov.uk
In making threats and plans to occupy Greenland the US is already in breach of art. 2 (4) of the UN Charter and art.8 of the Rome Statute of the International Court of Justice. US President looking increasingly like the criminal head of a rogue state.
January 19, 2026 at 7:38 PM
In making threats and plans to occupy Greenland the US is already in breach of art. 2 (4) of the UN Charter and art.8 of the Rome Statute of the International Court of Justice. US President looking increasingly like the criminal head of a rogue state.
Lincolnshire is a coastal county, it’s just that when you get to the coast it can still be quite a long way to the sea.
January 17, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Lincolnshire is a coastal county, it’s just that when you get to the coast it can still be quite a long way to the sea.
Interesting debate in House of Lords today on proscription of IRGC including this exchange between the current chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Lord Beamish, and former ISC member, now Home Office Minister, Lord Hanson hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-0...
January 13, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Interesting debate in House of Lords today on proscription of IRGC including this exchange between the current chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Lord Beamish, and former ISC member, now Home Office Minister, Lord Hanson hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2026-0...
Elizabeth Buchanan refers to Greenland as “the James Blunt of geopolitics and international security.” I’m not sure if that’s unfair to Greenland or to James Blunt.
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Elizabeth Buchanan refers to Greenland as “the James Blunt of geopolitics and international security.” I’m not sure if that’s unfair to Greenland or to James Blunt.
I was interested in these comments from lead BBC weather presenter Simon King today about the forthcoming storm in the UK and the balancing of technology and human judgment when assessing risk. Parallels with intelligence analysis? @smarrin.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I was interested in these comments from lead BBC weather presenter Simon King today about the forthcoming storm in the UK and the balancing of technology and human judgment when assessing risk. Parallels with intelligence analysis? @smarrin.bsky.social
Great to see the excellent Her Secret Service: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence by Claire Hubbard-Hall out in paperback and reviewed in yesterday’s Sunday Times.
January 5, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Great to see the excellent Her Secret Service: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence by Claire Hubbard-Hall out in paperback and reviewed in yesterday’s Sunday Times.
It is rare for ISC reports to be redacted in their entirety. In its 1996 Annual Report the first ISC revealed that it had submitted two reports to the Prime Minister which have never been published, one of which was considered so sensitive that even the subject of the report was not revealed.
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
It is rare for ISC reports to be redacted in their entirety. In its 1996 Annual Report the first ISC revealed that it had submitted two reports to the Prime Minister which have never been published, one of which was considered so sensitive that even the subject of the report was not revealed.
The ISC has the capacity to report to the Prime Minister without laying a report before Parliament. The relevant section of the Justice and Security Act, 2013 is here, section 3 (7).
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The ISC has the capacity to report to the Prime Minister without laying a report before Parliament. The relevant section of the Justice and Security Act, 2013 is here, section 3 (7).
The Intelligence and Security Committee has completed its inquiry into cloud technologies. It’s statement today suggests that this is a rare example of an ISC report which may not be laid before Parliament or published ‘due to ongoing security sensitivities’.
January 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The Intelligence and Security Committee has completed its inquiry into cloud technologies. It’s statement today suggests that this is a rare example of an ISC report which may not be laid before Parliament or published ‘due to ongoing security sensitivities’.
Oh dear BBC News, oh dear 🤦♂️
January 5, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Oh dear BBC News, oh dear 🤦♂️
A day after publication of the Intelligence & Security Committee’s latest report highlighting the worrying lack of oversight of parts of the intelligence community, the ISC chair issued the following statement about the lack of consultation or notification over recent reforms to defence intelligence
December 18, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A day after publication of the Intelligence & Security Committee’s latest report highlighting the worrying lack of oversight of parts of the intelligence community, the ISC chair issued the following statement about the lack of consultation or notification over recent reforms to defence intelligence
Interesting to compare the comments of the Chief of SIS in her first public speech today and the Intelligence and Security Committee’s annual report also published today.
December 15, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Interesting to compare the comments of the Chief of SIS in her first public speech today and the Intelligence and Security Committee’s annual report also published today.
After the chaos of the Johnson years I’d hoped the election would put relations between the government and the Intelligence and Security Committee back on an even keel, but this is as damning a comment on the state of intelligence oversight as has ever appeared in an ISC report.
December 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
After the chaos of the Johnson years I’d hoped the election would put relations between the government and the Intelligence and Security Committee back on an even keel, but this is as damning a comment on the state of intelligence oversight as has ever appeared in an ISC report.
The U.K. Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee has published its first annual report since 2023. It does not make for reassuring reading. isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
December 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The U.K. Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee has published its first annual report since 2023. It does not make for reassuring reading. isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
In my intelligence module I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week it’s oversight, a relatively new process, but parliamentary committees have long been concerned with the state’s treatment of individuals. William Hogarth’s The Gaols Committee of the House of Commons. #ArtofSpying
December 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
In my intelligence module I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week it’s oversight, a relatively new process, but parliamentary committees have long been concerned with the state’s treatment of individuals. William Hogarth’s The Gaols Committee of the House of Commons. #ArtofSpying
Pope Leo has granted an audience to the heads of the Italian domestic and foreign intelligence services - from Friday’s @thetimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Pope Leo has granted an audience to the heads of the Italian domestic and foreign intelligence services - from Friday’s @thetimes.com
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
November 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
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
I managed to spend a little bit of time in the library today 🧐 #ArtofSpying
November 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I managed to spend a little bit of time in the library today 🧐 #ArtofSpying
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.
November 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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.
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
November 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
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