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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 3h

'MI5 had been keen for the case to proceed in order that allegations about Beijing’s espionage methods could be aired in public, according to two government officials.' www.ft.com/content/9dc8...

Collapse of China spy case shows ‘UK can be bullied’, says trial witness

Government failed to provide evidence China was a threat to national security

www.ft.com

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 6h

www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...

Reposted by Paul F Scott

Mark Elliott @profmarkelliott.bsky.social · 12h

New post | On China, the Official Secrets Act and 'enemies': Is the Prime Minister wrong?
publiclawforeveryone.com/2025/10/08/o...

On China, the Official Secrets Act and ‘enemies’: Is the Prime Minister wrong?

The Prime Minister has claimed that his government’s hands are tied in relation to whether China constituted an ‘enemy’ for the purpose of a now-dropped criminal prosecution under…

publiclawforeveryone.com

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 1d

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 2d

'Powell’s appearance will mark the end of a year-long standoff between the committee and ministers, who refused for months to make him available for scrutiny before parliament.' www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Jonathan Powell to face MPs over role in collapse of espionage trial

National security adviser to answer questions over abandonment of a major Chinese spying case against two Britons

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Paul F Scott

UK Constitutional Law Association @ukcla.bsky.social · 2d

Cassandra Somers-Joce: A New Chapter for Governmental Candour? The Public Office (Accountability) Bill ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/10/06/c...

Cassandra Somers-Joce: A New Chapter for Governmental Candour? The Public Office (Accountability) Bill

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 16 September 2025. It gives effect to the Labour Party’s 2024 Manifesto commitment to introduce a ‘Hillsborough L…

ukconstitutionallaw.org

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Reposted by Paul F Scott

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 3d

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 3d

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 6d

'Once they are made public, these Hong Kong records will be invaluable to historians of Hong Kong, China and the British Empire. This cannot come soon enough.'

The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History @jich.bsky.social · 6d

Just released and #OpenAccess, have a read of the article 'Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park' by Matthew Hurst: doi.org/10.1080/0308...

Hong Kong Colonial Government Migrated Archives at Hanslope Park

Following the revelation in 2011 that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office was sitting on the migrated archives of dozens of colonial governments, almost 20,000 files were transferred from s...

doi.org

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 6d

Yes, I dont expect this to go anywhere but Im struck by the widespread sense that there's more to it than meets the eye.

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 6d

committees.parliament.uk/publications...

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 7d

'The UK Home Office demanded in early September that Apple create a means to allow officials access to encrypted cloud backups, but stipulated that the order applied only to British citizens’ data, according to people briefed on the matter.' www.ft.com/content/d101...

UK makes new attempt to access Apple cloud data

Order issued in September comes after Trump administration said London had backed down in fight over encryption

www.ft.com

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 9d

Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company v The Information Commissioner & National Records of Scotland caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukftt/grc/20...

Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 9d

This seems to be it: caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukftt/grc/20...

Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company v The Information Commissioner & Anor - Find Case Law - The National Archives

caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 10d

This sits together with the Nathan Gill story - stop and search authority the same in each case: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

George Galloway stopped at Gatwick by counter terrorism police - BBC News

Counter-terrorism officers intercepted the Workers Party leader and his wife without arresting them.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 12d

'They emerged after Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.' www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges

Gill admits to eight counts of bribery relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament

www.theguardian.com

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 12d

'Intelligence sources accept the need for scrutiny, challenge and improvement – it is “in our DNA,” says one – but they continue to question whether the balance is right, noting that the agencies have “finite” capacity.' www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09...

Access Restricted

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 13d

Neighbourhood pride: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tree of the Year honour for Glasgow's Argyle Street Ash

The tree defeated nine other contenders in a public vote to win the annual prize.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 13d

Another interesting issue here is that you are running out of oversight actors not involved in the original events (ie, not misled by MI5), and so the IPC has had to ask the Deputy IPC to lead on the investigation: www.ipco.org.uk/news/ipco-re...

IPCO receives Prime Ministerial Direction for Agent X investigation  - IPCO

www.ipco.org.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 14d

The McCullough Review on the PSNI's covert measures against journalists, lawyers etc... www.psni.police.uk/sites/defaul...

www.psni.police.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 14d

The Chair of the Afghanistan Inquiry has refused the MoD's application for a restriction order relating to the Pughsley report on Operation Northmoor: iiaweb-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/20250924_Pug...

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 14d

'As well as journalists, Mr McCullough has looked at how covert measures may have been used against lawyers and others.

It is understood his report runs to around 200 pages.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

PSNI to publish review into journalists' phone surveillance

It is likely to criticise how the police used reporters' phone numbers to check for information leaks.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 16d

I dont know if the timeliness makes sense but I wondered if there had been a PII claim that knocked out needed evidence.

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 18d

'Defining China as an enemy goes beyond normal government language and may not have pleased Beijing... However, the issue is well established and was known about when Cash and Berry were charged.' www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

The aide, the associate, the ‘Chinese agent’ – and the collapse of a long-awaited UK spy trial

Case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry was suddenly dropped, leaving questions for CPS

www.theguardian.com

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Paul F Scott @paulfscott.bsky.social · 19d

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68cd3c...

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