Britain wants to put satellites into space from home soil next year. At first, the futuristic ‘spaceports’ were aimed at commercial users. But now they could become embroiled in star wars, with the military telling Declassified it has met entrepreneurs from more than half of the UK’s launch pad companies.
Military
Trump’s illegal drone strike on Iranian general led to award for British troops
by PHIL MILLER | 18 March 2021
TAGGED: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq
Seven members of Britain’s armed forces won an award for their ‘vital operational’ work supporting the US military after it killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike last year, Declassified has found.
Britain backs most of the world’s repressive regimes, new analysis shows
by PHIL MILLER | 11 March 2021
TAGGED: Police
More than half of the countries in the world rated as ‘not free’ are ruled by regimes that the British government supports.
Britain overtakes Russian military spending — but only offers nurses 1% pay rise
by PHIL MILLER | 10 March 2021
TAGGED: Russia
Britain’s government is offering healthcare workers a 1% pay rise, which is likely to amount to a pay cut after inflation, at the same time as its military spending has just overtaken Russia to become the world’s fourth-largest defence budget.
‘A lot of people share my opinion within the military’, says soldier who protested against UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia
by PHIL MILLER | 18 December 2020
TAGGED: Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Ahmed Al-Batati, a Lance Corporal in the British army, staged a public protest against British arms sales to Saudi Arabia in August, concerned that “a child was dying every 10 minutes” in Yemen. In his first interview since becoming a civilian, he tells Declassified that others in the army share his view and that he took action because parliament did nothing.
Detectives ‘not interested’ in probing army commanders about Northern Ireland murders, says veteran
by PHIL MILLER | 18 December 2020
TAGGED: Ireland, Police, Terrorism
A multimillion-pound police probe into murders allegedly committed by a British army agent inside the IRA in Northern Ireland is reluctant to question senior UK commanders in charge of the covert mission, a retired intelligence officer has told Declassified.
The Ministry of Defence blacklisted Declassified – but won’t admit it
by MARK CURTIS | 11 December 2020
A UK government review into how the Ministry of Defence (MOD) handled relations with the organisation I edit, Declassified UK, concludes the MOD ‘did not have a policy’ of blacklisting us, despite providing evidence that it did. It reveals a deep problem in UK governance – that Britain is more oligarchy than democracy.
MOD ‘shouldn’t waste any time’ on Declassified, senior official says
by DCUK STAFF | 8 December 2020
U.K. government concludes official review into the blacklisting of Declassified.
Britain sent Saudi Arabia thousands of spare parts for warplanes amid arms embargo
by PHIL MILLER | 3 December 2020
TAGGED: BAE Systems, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
The UK military supplied 2,323 spare parts for Tornado fighter jets to an arms company in Saudi Arabia last year, despite a court order against exporting weapons for use in the Yemen war, Declassified UK has found.
REVEALED: The UK military’s overseas base network involves 145 sites in 42 countries
by PHIL MILLER | 24 November 2020