iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

University of Lincoln has disposed of over 500 staff since 2024. As we start a new academic year management have refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies. @uculincolnbranch.bsky.social is balloting its members on their willingness to take industrial action. If this is you please vote.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I have a pile of reading for the new term but the last of the summer reading was Elizabeth Goldring’s gorgeous Holbein: Renaissance Master. It seems likely that Holbein, like many other court painters, carried out intelligence missions for his powerful sponsors. #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Elizabeth Smily was an accomplished artist who also painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She later moved to Canada. She died in 2014 aged 96. I came across this report from a Canadian newspaper about the transfer of her painting of Odette to @I_W_M

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Odette Churchill (Sansom/Hallowes) by the artist Elizabeth Smily (née Wolf) from the Imperial War Museum collection. Not sure the date on the top is correct as I believe Sansom didn’t marry Peter Churchill until 1947, but a lovely portrait which I don’t think I’ve seen before #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Looking through this summer’s gallery visits. Archdukes Albert & Isabella of the Habsburg Netherlands by Frans Porbus II from the Groeninge in Bruges. Albert & particularly Isabella were the principal beneficiaries of the intelligence activities of the painter Peter Paul Rubens #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Great to watch @tourofbritain.bsky.social passing through the Lincolnshire Wolds today. After carefully studying the route I chose what I thought would be a quiet corner deep in the Wolds. When I arrived 30 or so others had clearly had the same idea 😁. Great atmosphere, great racing, great support!

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Very much enjoyed @mlamster.bsky.social book on the secret diplomatic role of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, which guided my recent visit to Antwerp. Struck by his thought provoking conclusion. #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Another from Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA). Luc Tuymans enigmatic ‘Secrets’ (1990) #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

One for the intelligence professional, ‘Minerva Overcoming Ignorance’ (1632-1633?) by Peter Paul Rubens, painter and spy. #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The sumptuous private garden behind Rubens’ house, carefully designed by the artist and described by @mlamster.bsky.social in Master of Shadows as “an excellent place for a private stroll, where delicate political affairs might be addressed away from prying eyes and ears.” #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

In Antwerp, looking for Rubens, Flemish master and sometime diplomat and spy #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

On leave, at last. Summer reading.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Scathing press release from the Intelligence and Security Committee about the collapse of the China espionage case. Raises serious concerns about the government’s handling of the case and further worrying evidence of attempts to hamper the work of the ISC. isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

In National Portrait Gallery today seeking more intelligence related art. Hein Heckroth’s surrealist portrait of Basil Liddell Hart features an ear because the artist mistakenly believed L-H was a spy. Reminiscent of the ears stitched into Elizabeth I’s cloak in the rainbow portrait #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

A trio of Elizabethan spymasters, William Cecil, Robert Cecil and Francis Walsingham. Part of the excellent Elizabeth I Queen & Court exhibition Philip Mould Gallery. If you’re in London it’s free and runs until 10 July. Well worth a visit. Also includes some paintings of Elizabeth I. #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

It’s been an awful week, I can’t say how much of a pleasure it’s been to be back at the National Archives. It’s been a long time, so long that I still want to call it the PRO.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Yesterday 142 academic staff at the University of Lincoln were put at risk of redundancy including the entire Politics and International Relations team. This follows cuts since 2024 which have already seen over 500 people leave the university. This is the 'University of No Regrets'.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Also found some more artworks relating to spying - ‘The Postal Censorship, Strand House London’ (1919) by A.J.C. Bryce, and ‘Erecting the First Camouflage Tree’ (1916) by Solomon J. Solomon, along with sketches by the artist G.C. Leon Underwood part of Solomon’s team #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Good to visit Manchester & Salford this week. Found time to pop into the Spies, Lies and Deception exhibition at the Imperial War Museum North.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

‘Eastern Still Life' tapestry by the Scottish artist Elizabeth Blackadder, which hung in the office of Sir Alex Younger during his time as Chief of MI6. Younger told the @financialtimes.com that he would often look at it in meetings claiming 'you can always find new patterns' #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

That’s a wrap on the 19th Lincoln Model United Nations. A privilege to spend the day with a great group of students and my super colleagues Simon Obendorf and Hamoon Khelghat-Doost. Thanks as always to Lincolnshire County Council for hosting.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Awaiting the start of another session of the University of Lincoln School of Social and Political Sciences Model United Nations. Palpable tension in the room.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

More on art and spying, popped into Burghley House today to look at the portraits of William Cecil (the first Lord Burghley), Elizabeth I’s spymaster. Portrait in full Privy Council regalia is by Marcus Gheeraerts who also painted Elizabeth I #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Doing some work on the representation of spying in art. Really pleased to get hold of the catalogue from James Hart Dyke’s 2011 exhibition ‘A year with MI6’. I’ve seen some of these paintings in the media but my no means all and Hart Dyke’s comments are a treat. #ArtofSpying

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

It’s been a challenging week but found time to pop into the Usher Gallery in Lincoln. Three views of Lincolnshire by William Logsdail (1904), L.S. Lowry (1959) and Peter DeWint (c.1813-1826). I particularly like the DeWint, it takes time & patience to appreciate the Lincolnshire flatlands & big sky.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

From @timeshighered.bsky.social Staff in UK higher ed, including at my own institution, are being put under intolerable pressure to accept voluntary redundancy with little prospect of new jobs particularly in HE. Time for overpaid university managers to end the cuts & prioritise saving jobs.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

The Times Higher redundancy survey offers a searing insight into the toxic state of UK higher ed. The causes of the crisis in UK HE are both national and local but the treatment of loyal staff by the institutions they have served is sickening. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/i-dont...

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Intelligence & Security Committee has completed its review of all the papers provided to it in relation to Mandelson’s vetting the bulk of which it only received on Monday this week. I’m far from convinced this has been a good use of ISC time but it has worked commendably fast.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

This is astonishing - none of the first batch of documents provided to the ISC related to Mandelson’s vetting and the first two documents relating to vetting were only provided to the committee on Monday of this week.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The Intelligence & Security Committee has published a bscathing update on its review of the Mandelson papers. This is a significant task for which the ISC had had to set aside other work but government has yet to provide the documents it promised to get to the committee by 10 April.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I have v. much enjoyed Andrew Graham-Dixon’s life of Vermeer. It is a beautiful book and an extraordinary piece of research. On the one hand he has constructed a life seemingly from almost nothing, on the other, in unpicking Vermeer’s exquisite work, he has drawn on the most richly textured sources.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The #Mandelson papers released today included just one which had been reviewed by the Intelligence and Security Committee. This is not going to be a quick process.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Doing some comparative work on parliaments but finding I can’t access a number of parliamentary websites I’ve used previously including Mexico, Romania, Israel. It could be routine maintenance but wondering if they’re increasing security settings to counter possible cyber attacks. 🤷‍♂️

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Very significant clarification today from the ISC regarding handling of the Mandelson papers. After some discussion the government has agreed that the decision about whether material referred to the ISC should be published will be taken by the ISC alone.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Proud to take another group of University of Lincoln politics and international relations students to participate in #BISAFCDOmodelNATO in the grandest of settings- the Locarno Suite at the Foreign Office.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

For the last two years I’ve been finding & sharing artworks relating to intelligence. Today I bring you “Budanov and the Magical Frog” (2024) by Ukrainian artist Yevgenia Gapchinska. It depicts Kyrylo Budanov then head of Ukrainian military intelligence #ArtofSpying #SlavaUkraini

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Today’s opposition day humble address. This time from the Liberal Democrats, asking for papers in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy. Although directed at the Government, the nature of the humble address means if passed this address will be presented to the King.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

For the avoidance of doubt, of which there appears to be some.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Interesting comment from former ISC member, Mark Pritchard, about the need to make the committee more independent from the Cabinet Office. Although he’s wrong about the Chair - appointed by the committee not the PM, which he must know.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

A reminder of last week’s humble address. All papers in the motion must be released, either to Parliament or the ISC. Worth noting: there is no third category of papers which the government decides can’t be released to the ISC; motion doesn’t say what the ISC is to do with the papers.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Latest statement from the ISC in relation to the Mandelson papers - outlines the process. The committee met representatives of the Cabinet Office and FCDO yesterday. The Cabinet Secretary was due to attend “but was unavailable at the last minute.”

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Worth bearing in mind the ISC has been asked by Parliament to look at the Mandelson papers and must do so, but there are legitimate questions about whether this is what the ISC is for. I am reminded of this paragraph from the ISC’s first report in May 1995.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

The ISC has published its letter to the PM regarding how it will handle the Mandelson papers. It is a carefully worded and fascinating document not least because the ISC has a statutory relationship with the executive but has unusually been asked to carry out a job by Parliament.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

The involvement of the Intelligence and Security Committee in the Mandelson affair further reinforces the argument that the ISC should move out of the Cabinet Office. This from the ISC Chair in May 2025.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Clever move this from ISC Deputy Chair, Jeremy Wright, leveraging additional resources for the committee to enable it to review the Mandelson material.

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

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...

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

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:

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

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

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Andrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

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.

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