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Matthew Redhead

@matthewrr.bsky.social
2.2K followers 899 following 4.9K posts

National & financial security. Former UK civil servant and financial intelligence professional. Senior Associate Fellow @rusi.bsky.social CFS. Loves ideas, cult fiction, anomalous stuff, landscapes and sanity. Views own.

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Reposted by Matthew Redhead
David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11h
The reminder that UK action is never fully free outside of the EU, and that there is a perfectly reasonable argument to be made of having more influence inside than out... either way, UK politics has never come to terms with being a third country.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 23h
Oh - how so?
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 23h
A fair point - I’m going to delete the repost until there’s anything further.
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Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Tom Reagan’s Witch’s Hat @rufustsuperfly.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Not a Verhoeven movie
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 23h
A truly undervalued classic, Secret Army. I liked Allo Allo, but it has a lot to answer for.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I just wanted to be a winner.
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Jon Dies At The End @accordingtojond.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I too have driven in Cornwall.
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Dr Seth Thévoz @seththevoz.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A more genteel age, when traitors and spies were perfectly willing to go on the evening news to answer questions. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJbI...
youtube.com
Soviet Spy Anthony Blunt Interviewed on News at Ten (1979)
YouTube video by Frontline by ITN
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Emma Willis, I like. Professional.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
*Curb music*
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Don’t do it. Don’t go there. Don’t go into the cellar.
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
🚨🚨European leaders must stop calling #Russian attacks “hybrid,” according to Estonia's FM. They are “terror attacks” and “sabotage attacks,” says Margus Tsahkna and part of a systematic Russian effort against Europe that amounts to “some kind of war." www.politico.eu/article/esto...
politico.eu
It’s war, not hybrid attacks, says Estonian foreign minister
Margus Tsahkna says Europe must present a united front against Moscow.
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Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence @secretsandspies.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Putin warns West that Russia is ready to use every weapon to protect Kaliningrad www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Putin warns West that Russia is ready to use every weapon to protect Kaliningrad
The Russian leader insists Moscow is "not threatening anyone" and is merely responding to statements by Western leaders.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I laughed a lot. And then I wept.
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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 02/10/2026
Good times
Daniel Fried& @AmbDanFried
X.com
Ah, KGB tactics I recall from my youth. The Finns, I suspect, will be apt to handle this well.
Petri Mäkelä @ @pmakela1 •14h
Several Finnish members of the Parliament have had recent break-ins where their houses "have been rearranged" a bit.
This is a very classic KGB/FSB/SVR move
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Say it ain’t so!
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
When I first read about the death penalty as a child, I thought it was barbaric. Still do. A state that gives itself the judicial power to kill debases itself and everyone it involves in that repulsive business.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I would like to request Mr Guy (@dieworkwear.bsky.social) for a considered assessment of the Secretary’s shoes? To use the alleged words of the Duke of Wellington about his troops: “I’m not sure whether they scare the enemy, but they sure as hell scare me”.
dieworkwear.bsky.social
derek guy (@dieworkwear.bsky.social)
Menswear writer. Editor at Put This On. Words at The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, Esquire, and Mr. Porter. If you have a style question, search: https://dieworkwear.com...
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Alan Rew @alanrew.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"Garry Kasparov Reportedly Warned Of Alleged Russian Assassination Plot In U.S." "The 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov was warned by U.S. authorities this summer that he was the target of a plot to kill him and was placed under special protection" #chess #chesssky
chess.com
Garry Kasparov Reportedly Warned Of Alleged Russian Assassination Plot In U.S.
13th World Champion Garry Kasparov was warned by U.S. authorities this summer that he was the target of a plot to kill him and was placed under special protection, says Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
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Neil Norman And His Cosmic Orchestra @fubsyshabaroon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Current mood:
A cow with David Lynch (R)
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
But not the Nazis.
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Will Davies @will-davies.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There’s a great deal to take offence at with Pete Hegseth. But I’m starting with those shoes.
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Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence @secretsandspies.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese ‘front company’ stealing research www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
MI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese ‘front company’ stealing research
Security service says academics should stop taking grants from and working with firm backed by China’s intelligence service
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The Economist @economist.com · 30/09/2026
Some EU member states want an Irish alumina refiner included in a new round of sanctions. Its defenders argue that doing so would cripple Europe’s aluminium sector—but they are wrong
bit.ly
Ireland is helping supply Russia’s war machine
The EU considers putting an Irish alumina refiner on its sanctions list
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Des @desdelboy.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Wednesday
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Den of Scholes @denofscholes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
BBC News - One of the five men arrested near RAF Fairford called 999 himself www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... This is sounding more and more like Chris Morris wrote a Four Lions follow up.
bbc.co.uk
One of the five men arrested near RAF Fairford called 999 himself
He made the call almost an hour before a farmer also called police after seeing men in balaclavas.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Do we need to compare the two posts to spot the differences?
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Paul Garrard @paulgarrard.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Iranian agents are highly unlikely to arrive by dinghy. If you're backed by a country there are plenty of 'legitimate' ways to enter a country.
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Thomas Cheney @thomascheney.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
all up for Rejoining the EU but we need to change our views on immigration as a country - the 'legitimate concerns' bullshit got mainstreamed by opposition to Eastern European Freedom of Movement, and allowed Farage and co to present themselves as different from the BNP/NF becuase Poles are 'white'
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Sal 🇵🇸🇺🇦 @sal46.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Super piece on two sides of nostalgist northern indie heritage, one represented by decent lib bloke Marr & channelled by Burnham (see also Danny Boyle, Stephen Graham, Guy Garvey’s soothing tones on Radio 6), and a darker side represented by Morrissey, still imbued with post-war trauma & violence.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I think that is what might be called “signalling”.
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John Rain🥇 @johnrain.co.uk · 28/09/2026
RAF Fairford latest: Organiser spotted.
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Rev Peter W Nimmo @peternimmo.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The far right are Vichyists and Quislings. An occasional thread
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Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Inevitably, lots of speculation over the possible instigators of the operation disrupted near RAF Fairford. Pointless at present because of the wide choice available. (Iran? Russia? Russia pretending to be Iran? Home-grown far-left "activists"?) We will know more in due course, but for now -
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Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I’ll be on BBC News at 1400 to talk about this. Apparently I am a “safe pair of hands” who “won’t speculate on air”. Makes me wonder who else they have already asked and what they said…
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I was delighted to see Andrew Lownie talk about how he researched and wrote “Entitled” on Friday evening last week at a meeting of The Sohemian Society. He is a fascinating and brave man, and was expertly interviewed by Ross Macfarlane. An inspiring event about the importance and power of research.
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𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 @sundaedivine.lol · 27/09/2026
Now let’s resume talking about Epstein.
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Sam @samdeane.eurosky.social · 28/09/2026
I have frozen the plums that were in the icebox and which I bought to make plum crumble Forgive me I didn't get round to making it
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Dan of the Year @downwithdan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Ah yes the circle of life
• Dispatched
Sep 25 23:03 pm
In Transit
Sep 26 09:52 am
Delayed
Sep 26 10:57 am
Held By Carrier
Sep 26 15:07 pm
Destroyed
Sep 26 15:08 pm
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Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In breaking news this morning: coverage of the RAF Fairford incident is punctuated by a BBC journalist who finds life outside London so bizarre and alien that he has to explain to people what waking up in the countryside is like in the live feed.
"Birdsong, mist and the smell of manure." I don't know where Edward Rowe is from but I suspect it's not Gloucestershire.
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
💯👌🏼
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"The Chinese are actively destroying the US global position while the US president bows and scrapes." phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/its-not-th...
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Thank God Reform is standing up for masked, knife-wielding, ex-cons. Society's most marginalised group.
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Reuters @reuters.com · 25/09/2026
Man appears in London court accused of providing Russian intelligence with drone factory details reut.rs/4iIe6Fj
reut.rs
Man appears in London court accused of providing Russian intelligence with drone factory details
A British man will go on trial next year accused of providing information about factories which manufacture ​drones and offering to sabotage them on behalf ‌of Russian intelligence, a London court was told on Friday.
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General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"ok Andy, now Keir's won you a big majority but he's out the game, so do you want to risk it all for a hung parliament and a tumble dryer"
Andy Burnham (l) photoshopped into a screenshot from the tv series Bullseye with Jim Bowen (r)
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Neil Norman And His Cosmic Orchestra @fubsyshabaroon.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
WE DO THIS NOT BECAUSE IT IS EASY, BUT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY
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Paperback Paradise @paperbackparadise.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Photo of a vintage book cover featuring a bearded man chopping planks of wood in half. Title and copy read

Defeating Wood

Teach Wood
The Lesson It Has Long Deserved

Gary Arkanasse
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Tom in his pomp. Glorious days.
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Roger Luckhurst @theprofrog.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Ok which of you bastards put acid in my tea?
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