Declassified UK

1 week ago | declassifieduk.org | Mark Curtis

Amid the 80th anniversary of VE day, we reflect on how British governments have failed to uphold the principles men and women defended during 1939-45. Veterans watch VE day commemorations from Buckingham Palace. (Photo: Rob Kane / MoD)We Britons can rightly be proud of helping to win the Second World War 80 years ago. Soviet and American power mainly proved decisive in defeating the evils of Nazi Germany and fascist Japan.

1 week ago | declassifieduk.org | Mark Curtis

The British government is being urged to halt its trade negotiations with Israel as it continues to bombard and blockade Gaza. Chris Law MP, the Scottish National Party’s spokesman on international trade, has accused Labour of acting “as if it is business as usual” after it sent a UK trade envoy to Israel. Keir Starmer’s trade commissioner for Europe, Chris Barton, visited Tel Aviv and Jerusalem between 24-27 March “to discuss a range of trade matters”, the government has said.

2 weeks ago | declassifieduk.org | Phil Miller

Sultan Qaboos, a UK ally who ruled the Gulf kingdom of Oman for half a century until his death in 2020, has been criticised in surprisingly frank terms by a senior diplomat responsible for protecting international relations. Graham Hand, a former ambassador who now runs the Foreign Office’s censorship department, said of Qaboos: “His reign was a very ambiguous affair.

2 weeks ago | declassifieduk.org | Phil Miller |Alex Morris

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin questioned by Declassified's editor, Phil Miller. (Photo: Alex Morris / Declassified UK)The chief of the defence staff – Britain’s most senior military officer – refused to answer questions yesterday about Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance flights over Gaza and intelligence sharing with Israel.

1 month ago | declassifieduk.org | Phil Miller

Government cannot explain why it withheld a Downing Street document for up to six years after it was cleared for release. Graham Hand is the senior sensitivity reviewer at FCDO Services. (Photo: Alex Morris / Declassified UK)The Foreign Office’s censorship chief has told a court it was “very complicated, a little bit mysterious and regrettable” that a cache of documents was concealed from this journalist long after it was supposed to be made public.