A controversial Whitehall body — the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund — has used large amounts of money from the British aid budget to support the opposition in Syria. Declassified outlines the extent of this funding for the first time.
Blog
Why I took the police to court over a 48-year-old secret document
by PHIL MILLER | 15 July 2021
TAGGED: India, Ireland, Malaysia, MI5, Sri Lanka
Declassified UK’s chief reporter enters the Kafkaesque world of official secrecy as he tries to uncover the British state’s involvement in a notorious terrorist bombing for which no one has been held to account.
Government approves ex-minister for oil company role after he lobbied two prime ministers for its CEO
by MATT KENNARD | 13 July 2021
TAGGED: Libya
Sir Alan Duncan, an oil salesman turned British foreign minister, has been approved by the UK government to take up a role at Vitol, the world’s largest petroleum trader. Declassified reveals the potential conflict of interests at the heart of the appointment.
What was Britain’s most senior police officer doing with MI6?
by RICHARD NORTON-TAYLOR | 8 July 2021
TAGGED: MI6, Police
During her career, Cressida Dick, Britain’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner, has repeatedly escaped full accountability over her role in controversial cases. One murky episode is her time in the ‘Foreign Office’, understood to really mean MI6.
Revealed: UK troops ‘secretly operating in Yemen’
by NASEH SHAKER | 6 July 2021
TAGGED: Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Britain has a secret detachment of up to 30 troops in Yemen, where they are training Saudi forces amid the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe, Declassified has discovered.
Arming the Philippines: It’s a Duterte job, but does Britain have to do it?
by TOM SYKES | 1 July 2021
TAGGED: HSBC, Philippines, Shell
Thousands of people have been killed in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte, but the UK has massively increased arms exports to his authoritarian regime and is prioritising trade and investment with the country — partly as a post-Brexit bulwark against China.
Foreign minister James Cleverly accused of breaking ministerial Code over arms to Israel
by MARK CURTIS | 30 June 2021
TAGGED: Israel
Britain’s Middle East minister James Cleverly is regularly refusing to provide answers to written questions posed to him by members of parliament, especially on UK arms exports to Israel, contravening House of Commons rules.
Revealed: The secret Whitehall committee that holds ‘no records’
by PHIL MILLER | 24 June 2021
TAGGED: Bahrain, Oman, Raytheon, Yemen
Declassified has discovered a secret UK government committee that held meetings with an arms dealer, former oil executive and ex-spy — but parliament is told there are ‘no records’ of what was discussed.
UK military deepens ties with regime accused of funding terror groups
by MARK CURTIS | 23 June 2021
TAGGED: Qatar, Terrorism
Britain’s Royal Air Force is about to establish a second fighter squadron with Qatar, an authoritarian Gulf state accused of supporting extremist groups across the Middle East which the UK itself opposes and says promote terrorism.
Gulf spymaster who bought John Terry’s £16m mansion challenged over corruption
by PHIL MILLER | 21 June 2021
TAGGED: Oman
Middle East spy chief who bought a palatial property in the UK from former England football captain John Terry is being accused of corruption and human rights abuses, Declassified UK can reveal.