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Tom Griffin

@tcgriffin.bsky.social
1.2K followers 3.9K following 445 posts

Author of State-Private Networks and Intelligence Theory (Routledge 2022). Writing on intelligence history on substack. intelligencehistory.substack.com

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Reposted by Tom Griffin
PAT FINUCANE CENTRE @finucanecentre.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Please share widely !!
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Reposted by Tom Griffin
Brian Dooley @dooleydooley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Thanks to @voelkerrechtsblog.org for running this piece by @suchitauppal.bsky.social & myself of @humanrightsfirst.org about the inquest into killings by British soldiers of 5 civilians in Belfast in 1972 @finucanecentre.bsky.social @museumfreederry.bsky.social @cjharvey1.bsky.social
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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
There are three things the Chancellor should prioritise in the Budget, all aimed to make electricity cheaper: 1. Removing the remaining electricity levies 2. Abolish the gas standing charge, moving it to unit rates 3. Forgive electricity debt www.nesta.org.uk/feature/ener...
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Der Speiegel now reporting that one of the countries involved was Azerbaijan. x.com/FideliusSchm...
x.com
Fidelius Schmid (@FideliusSchmid) on X
++++Exclusive+++ Former BND chief charged with treason allegedly leaked secret information with Azerbaijani intelligence @derspiegel https://t.co/dMoDwd1Cow
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Ben @cinemashoebox.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
RIP Jeffrey Archer, not a day goes by when I don't think about the judge in his 1987 libel case (which Archer "won" by doing a bunch of perjury) summing up for the jury by going "would a guilty man have such a hot wife". one of the most insane legal moments of all time
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Matthew Redhead @matthewrr.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
What a story.
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
There are also US and UAE angles in that Der Spiegel article. A busy man!
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The prosecution press statement mentions two separate foreign intelligence agencies. Hanning's involvement with a bankrupt Latvian bank is one area where there might be a Russian connection. www.spiegel.de/internationa...
spiegel.de
August Hanning: Legal and Critical Scrutiny for Ex German Intelligence Chief's Advisory Gigs
August Hanning, the former president of Germany's foreign intelligence agency, the BND, finds himself in the spotlight once again. Reporting by DER SPIEGEL has unveiled a series of questionable adviso...
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
If this case is linked to Hanning's publicly-known revolving door connections, it underlines that there is often a security case for transparency reforms.
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
His private security firm was investigated last year over an alleged kidnapping plot. Several former Israeli intelligence chiefs were drawn into the affair. www.ynetnews.com/article/hkph...
ynetnews.com
Report: Former Mossad chief tied to German heiress kidnapping plot
Trial of German steakhouse heiress Christina Block took another turn as ex-husband testified that former Mossad chief Danny Yatom was involved in 2024 kidnapping of their children, after earlier alleg...
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I have updated the subscriber page for former BND chief August Hanning in light of his arrest over allegations over espionage. intelligencehistory.substack.com/p/august-han... Hanning 1998-2005 tenure coincided with the Curveball Affair and the Iraq War.
intelligencehistory.substack.com
August Hanning
BND President 1998-2005
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Simon Nixon @nixonsimon.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The somewhat lame response from Brexiteers to Burnham's EU gambit has been to attack him for reopening a divisive issue. But the idea that the Tories and Reform back the status quo couldn't be further from the truth. Their plans to withdraw from the ECHR would reignite Brexit battles... My latest
bylinetimes.com
'Why Andy Burnham Will Ultimately Back Rejoining the EU'
The logic of the Prime Minister's argument that Brexit has done more harm than good only points in one direction, argues Simon Nixon
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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 06/10/2026
🚨 BREAKING: A former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency has been arrested in connection with an investigation into suspected espionage and attempted treason, according to the German Federal Prosecutors Office. Read the story: vist.ly/5m7ec
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
🔴 Conservative Plan to Scrap Solar Rules for New Homes Would Lock Millions Into Gas Use Pledge to abolish the Future Homes Standard is branded ‘a plan for poor housing and high bills’ by fuel poverty campaigners, as the solar sector urges the party to think again bylinetimes.com/2026/10/05/c...
bylinetimes.com
Conservative Plan to Scrap Solar Rules for New Homes Would Lock Millions Into Gas Use
Pledge to abolish the Future Homes Standard is branded 'a plan for poor housing and high bills' by fuel poverty campaigners, as the solar sector urges the party to think again
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Annette Dittert @annettedittert.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This is just depressing. And I do not understand why Labour seems to let it slip. It’s not in Britain‘s, let alone their own interest.
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Stefan Müller @stefanmueller.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
New feature @irishpollingind.bsky.social: you can now explore election results and polling estimates from 1987 to 2026 interactively. Select one or more parties to check how their (combined) support has changed. The graph also lists cabinets and government composition. pollingindicator.com/#graphs
Party support in general elections and opinion polls, 1987 to 2026 – graph covers all parties included in the Irish Polling IndicatorSupport for Fianna Fáil, 1987–2026Combined support for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, 1987–2026Combined support for Sinn Féin, Social Democrats, Labour, Green Party, and Solidarity-PBP, 1987–2026
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Robert Jenrick’s handling of donations to his failed 2024 Tory leadership campaign has come under fresh scrutiny, after the UK donor at the centre of the row claimed that the politician and his senior campaign staff knew about the involvement of an overseas donor. www.ft.com/content/38a5...
ft.com
Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick faces fresh accusation from campaign donor
British businessman Phillip Ullmann says the politician was aware of his relationship with potentially illicit US donor
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Can't overstate how much this critique is misplaced. Bryant is, in Westminster terms, vastly experienced, with an executive career stretching back to ministerial appointments under Gordon Brown. The problem is that doesn't translate into knowing or caring about NI: www.irishnews.com/opinion/noel...
irishnews.com
Noel Doran: Why does London keep sending us such inexperienced secretaries of state?
There is little in Chris Bryant’s CV which suggests he was ever qualified to take charge of a major political crisis
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Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.com · 05/10/2026
Most Europeans would support a UK return to the EU • French and Italian voters are least enthusiastic, but they still broadly approve of potential UK return • Potential UK referendum could complicate talks; EU officials would be wary of investing time in talks for nothing www.ft.com/content/3d43...
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A new trade union has just been officially registered, the UK Hospitality Union It's a v under-represented part of the workplace re. unions: "Members include...baristas, hotel staff, restaurant staff, chefs, event caterers, bar staff, housekeeping." Be interesting to see how they fare
ukhospitalityunion.com
UK Hospitality Union | trade union
At the UK Hospitality Trade Union, we are the united voice for workers across the UK's hospitality sector. Our mission is simple: to advocate for fair treatment, safe working conditions, and equitable...
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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Herein lies one of the biggest recurring, and escalating, issues with hostile anti-asylum policies, they don't tackle gangs. Instead they penalise the victims of gangs. It isn't the gangs piloting boats, it is normally people seeking asylum who are forced to by the gangs. inews.co.uk/news/represe...
inews.co.uk
I represented the pilot of a mega dinghy. Why Channel migrants are still arriving
Defence barrister Audrey Mogan has seen firsthand why new legislation is bound to fail
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Latest Substack subscriber post: Harare MI6 station intelligencehistory.substack.com/p/harare-mi6...
intelligencehistory.substack.com
Harare MI6 Station
An MI6 station was formed in 1960 in what is now the Zimbabwean capital Harare, and was then the Southern Rhodesian capital of Salisbury.
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Going through the Electoral Commission's lesson plans for secondary schools on democracy and I have views. Many UK public bodies would really like to ignore devolution in NI 1921-72, even without that Assembly elections were in '98 and (bonus) this erases pre-Apartheid black voting in South Africa.
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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Looks like dramatic results in #Brazil 🇧🇷. The far right is ahead in Presidency, Senate, and House. The right-wing turn in Latin America is beyond the breaking point. The only question now is: how far right will it go?
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Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The eye-popping deal that gave Abu Dhabi ‘right of first refusal’ over large stretches of Manchester is on the Sunday Times front page - with a credit to @manchestermill.bsky.social where @jackdulhanty.bsky.social broke the story.
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Kevin McKenna MP @kevinmckenna.co.uk · 03/10/2026
Sarah’s reaction isn’t surprising. We all know the criteria she uses & that Reform’s constant two-tier refrain reveals rather more about how they see the world than how our police & courts do This incident should have been a much bigger wake-up call to all of us. Instead it was too often downplayed
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solomonhughes.bsky.social @solomonhughes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
(1)RIP Frances Stonor Saunders, who died (too young) in August. She helped me with this Aug 2007 story : Prime Minister Gordon Brown thought her book exposing Cold War CIA "fronts" was a guidebook, not a warning, and we should have similar secretly-govt-backed "fronts" in the War on Terror....
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
🔴 Manchester City is what happens when the rich and powerful believe money trumps any rules or regulations I've written about club football's biggest ever scandal, and interviewed the brilliant @migueldelaney.bsky.social, for Democracy for Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/manchester...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Manchester City: club football's "biggest ever scandal"
I spoke to author Miguel Delaney about the UAE, industrial-scale cheating and football's “financial wild west.”
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Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
SV is a worse form of AV because you have to guess who will make it into the final two (we should have AV for mayoral elections). Not fit for multi-party competition where that is harder
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David Ford @david-ford.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The public information campaign for the (re-)introduction of STV to Northern Ireland in 1973 used the slogan: PR is as simple as 1, 2, 3 ... If you don't have to punch chads and just have to write numbers opposite names, it really is.
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The ability to pour hundreds of millions of pounds into a loss-making TV channel, bent on wrenching British politics sharply to the right, is yet another of the ways in which extreme wealth is trying to remake UK democracy. It needs to be part of any serious conversation about political funding.
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Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I'd go further and argue Euro membership is an opportunity not a threat whether in trade, financial markets, or how UK personnel could come to shape the ECB. Building a sustainable outcome for the UK in the EU has to look beyond FoM and start engaging with how to integrate in Schengen and Euro
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Duncan Robinson @duncanrobinson.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Atoms are back, baby
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Tom Haddon @tomh-analyst.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
I don't know the rights or the wrongs of Greenpeace's action here, but I've long wondered about the role of the crown estate (since BP paid an ludicrous lease fee). It seems to work as a transfer from energy bill payers to treasury which is a classic stealth tax. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Greenpeace threatens to sue crown estate for driving up cost of offshore wind
Environmental group accuses king’s property management company of ‘milking for profit’ its monopoly ownership of seabed
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Katja Bego @katjabego.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If we want European alternatives to gain traction, we need to use them. That’s the sovereignty premium we should all be willing to pay: accept “good enough”, otherwise solutions can never achieve scale, improve, find a customer base. Embed Mistral, not Claude, etc. www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...
politico.eu
‘Absolute s–t’: EU’s Microsoft Teams alternative draws bad reviews from officials
The U.S. would “instantly” win a hypothetical tech war, an official moaned.
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Nathan Ellstrand @nellstra.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Via @nsarchive.bsky.social: The CIA Station in Mexico Covert Operations Targeted Student Groups Before and After Tlatelolco Massacre On 58th Anniversary, Archive Calls on CIA to Declassify All Remaining Records on 1968 Student Killings nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...
nsarchive.gwu.edu
The CIA Station in Mexico: The Last JFK Assassination Records Secrets
Washington, D.C., October 1, 2026 - The CIA continues to keep secret major substantive portions of an internal accounting of its activities in Mexico, including information on covert operations target...
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Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 01/10/2026
There is still huge resentment in this town about the amount of time, energy and money that was used up by #Brexit from 2016 to 2020. The last thing people want is to start that process again only to have a new government come in and torpedo the talks.
davekeating.substack.com
Brussels reacts to Burnham’s EU rejoin gambit
The assessment in the EU has not changed over the past five years; in order to start rejoin talks, they would need to see overwhelming cross-party support in the UK.
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paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This is sovereignty. 'Wind and solar generated a record 41% share of the UK’s electricity needs in 2026 to date, compared with 25% from gas, avoiding the need for gas imports worth £5.9bn since the outbreak of war between the US and Iran in February.' www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-win...
Bar chart showing record wind and solar have saved the UK from gas imports worth £5.9 billion during Hormuz crisis.
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Tom Griffin @tcgriffin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This is why I'm sceptical that SMRs are the future for Dungeness.
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Joël Reland @jreland.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I've tied together a couple of themes from this week - Burnham's speech and our new divergence tracker - to argue that the EU is becoming increasingly protectionist in its regulatory approach, and that Burnham should bear this in mind as he decides what to do next. ukandeu.ac.uk/made-in-euro...
It is important that, when Burnham comes to appraise the options for the EU relationship, he considers not just the economic impacts of Brexit so far, but also the type of institution which the EU is evolving into. And he might find it hard to escape the conclusion that, for a country on the EU’s doorstep and highly dependent on it as a trade partner, the economic costs of non-membership are becoming ever harder to bear.
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Naomi O'Leary @naomiohreally.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Where does the idea that the UK would have to be in Schengen and join the Euro come from? I personally don‘t see the EU insisting on that
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“Brexit was a huge loss both for the British people and for the European project as a whole. If the United Kingdom were to make such a decision, Spain would welcome it with open arms and once again embrace our friends in Britain.” - President Sánchez
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Feargal Cochrane @feargalc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
JBs ‘we are the adults in the room’ argument slightly challenged by fact that PSNI advised PC they saw no evidence of public disorder potential (logic is that PSNI require overt displays of disorder before they will weigh people’s rights in such advice to PC -duly noted I’m sure by all parties 🤦‍♂️
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Peter Adamson @histphilosophy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
BIG NEWS! I am launching a new podcast together with colleagues from the Cluster of Excellence on Cross-Cultural Philology here at the LMU in Munich. It's called Pages of History and will appear once a month, following today's initial launch with three episodes. pagesofhistorypodcast.net
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Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
that conditional polling is actually closer than I'd expect (I suspect a referendum campaign would pull in two directions - downplaying the necessity of joining Euro/Schengen v playing up the perceived risks of doing so)
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Weirder and weirder
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Giulio Mattioli @giuliomattioli.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is so tragic. In 2022, Italian environment minister Cingolani was arguing that we shouldn't go too fast on EVs because the Chinese will continue to buy combustion engine vehicles www.quattroruote.it/news/industr... In 2026, China has 50%+ BEV sales - the EU lags at 20%-27%
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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Some of the “left-wing” responses to this great video and initiative are so incredibly stupid — and some stupid as well as antisemitic. 🤯
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