Dr. Dan Lomas
@sandbaggerone.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham. Writes on 🇬🇧 intelligence.
Remains an opinionated Northerner & Mancunian. ✍ Vetting, 'Friends' & UK intelligence 📚 🇺🇦 Views my own.
🔗 https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas
Remains an opinionated Northerner & Mancunian. ✍ Vetting, 'Friends' & UK intelligence 📚 🇺🇦 Views my own.
🔗 https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas
Worth adding that the best overview of the importance of law in intelligence liaison can be found in the ISC's report on International Partnerships from 2023 that shows the UK's legal obligations vs. liaison:
isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
November 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Worth adding that the best overview of the importance of law in intelligence liaison can be found in the ISC's report on International Partnerships from 2023 that shows the UK's legal obligations vs. liaison:
isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
isc.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
For the record, it's not my house. I would have insisted getting agent and officer right
October 31, 2025 at 8:49 AM
For the record, it's not my house. I would have insisted getting agent and officer right
👀 Mapping of German beach defenses near Ostend, drawn by an SIS/MI6 network in June 1944.
October 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
👀 Mapping of German beach defenses near Ostend, drawn by an SIS/MI6 network in June 1944.
Erm, they went "live" in 1992 after the Prime Minister told Parliament that Sir Colin McColl was "C". McColl subsequently did interviews with journalists in his office. 1994 is the Intelligence Services Act.
Shame duff history has appeared on SIS's Insta. Just get it right. But I'm not Dan Snow 🤦♂️
Shame duff history has appeared on SIS's Insta. Just get it right. But I'm not Dan Snow 🤦♂️
October 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Erm, they went "live" in 1992 after the Prime Minister told Parliament that Sir Colin McColl was "C". McColl subsequently did interviews with journalists in his office. 1994 is the Intelligence Services Act.
Shame duff history has appeared on SIS's Insta. Just get it right. But I'm not Dan Snow 🤦♂️
Shame duff history has appeared on SIS's Insta. Just get it right. But I'm not Dan Snow 🤦♂️
"It is important to note that, ultimately, the CPS were pursuing charges and a conviction using the outdated legislation of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which was the legislation in force at the time
when the alleged offences were committed".
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
when the alleged offences were committed".
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
October 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
"It is important to note that, ultimately, the CPS were pursuing charges and a conviction using the outdated legislation of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which was the legislation in force at the time
when the alleged offences were committed".
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
when the alleged offences were committed".
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Counterintelligence officers like ...
October 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Counterintelligence officers like ...
They're called intelligence officers, not agents, @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy 🤦♂️
October 23, 2025 at 1:32 PM
They're called intelligence officers, not agents, @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy 🤦♂️
"Pope is Catholic, suggests Vatican".
October 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
"Pope is Catholic, suggests Vatican".
Today we're talking intelligence analysis/assessment:
October 20, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Today we're talking intelligence analysis/assessment:
October 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Lads, I'm just going to play Goldeneye
October 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Lads, I'm just going to play Goldeneye
👀 Number 21, Queen Anne's Gate, London. One-time home of SIS's second Chief, "Quex" Sinclair, and home to the Passport Control Office, part of SIS''s inter-war cover (and some income) overseas. It was later joined to Broadway, when it became SIS's headquarters in the mid-1920s.
October 16, 2025 at 9:28 AM
👀 Number 21, Queen Anne's Gate, London. One-time home of SIS's second Chief, "Quex" Sinclair, and home to the Passport Control Office, part of SIS''s inter-war cover (and some income) overseas. It was later joined to Broadway, when it became SIS's headquarters in the mid-1920s.
(Critical) Intelligence Studies is just nonsense. It's overtheorisation and a copy of Critical IR/Security, etc.
It's still possible to study gender, media, ethnicity, non-state intelligence without being "critical" because intelligence studies covers everything.
It's still possible to study gender, media, ethnicity, non-state intelligence without being "critical" because intelligence studies covers everything.
October 14, 2025 at 8:52 AM
(Critical) Intelligence Studies is just nonsense. It's overtheorisation and a copy of Critical IR/Security, etc.
It's still possible to study gender, media, ethnicity, non-state intelligence without being "critical" because intelligence studies covers everything.
It's still possible to study gender, media, ethnicity, non-state intelligence without being "critical" because intelligence studies covers everything.
Yes, it's that man again ...
If only there wasn't an event over 20 years ago that damaged his credibility 😉
If only there wasn't an event over 20 years ago that damaged his credibility 😉
October 9, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Yes, it's that man again ...
If only there wasn't an event over 20 years ago that damaged his credibility 😉
If only there wasn't an event over 20 years ago that damaged his credibility 😉
✍️ "With this amount, which only equals that spent every year on the maintenance (not the cost) of one of H.M. Destroyers ... it is indeed remarkable that such results have been achieved at all".
SIS's Chief, "Quex" Sinclair, highlighting the lack of money to support SIS in October 1935.
SIS's Chief, "Quex" Sinclair, highlighting the lack of money to support SIS in October 1935.
September 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
✍️ "With this amount, which only equals that spent every year on the maintenance (not the cost) of one of H.M. Destroyers ... it is indeed remarkable that such results have been achieved at all".
SIS's Chief, "Quex" Sinclair, highlighting the lack of money to support SIS in October 1935.
SIS's Chief, "Quex" Sinclair, highlighting the lack of money to support SIS in October 1935.
👀 SIS/MI6 are the last of the UK's agencies to join social media in an official capacity, following on from MI5 and GCHQ.
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
September 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
👀 SIS/MI6 are the last of the UK's agencies to join social media in an official capacity, following on from MI5 and GCHQ.
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
"Five Eyes" is not a catch all for everything involving the UK, US, Canada, Australia and NZ. It's about specific aspects of intelligence and security, and it's a hill I'm willing to die on. #JustSayin
September 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"Five Eyes" is not a catch all for everything involving the UK, US, Canada, Australia and NZ. It's about specific aspects of intelligence and security, and it's a hill I'm willing to die on. #JustSayin
And I should add post-1945. It's Friday and I can't be bothered doing the FS to "C" radio pre-1945, though "Quex" (1923-39) probably wins out of everyone!
September 5, 2025 at 6:38 PM
And I should add post-1945. It's Friday and I can't be bothered doing the FS to "C" radio pre-1945, though "Quex" (1923-39) probably wins out of everyone!
The current Chief of SIS has served six Foreign Secretaries - Raab, Truss, Cleverly, Cameron, Lammy and now Cooper, a record only equalled by Sir Dick White, who was "C" between 1956 and 1968. 🤦♂️
September 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The current Chief of SIS has served six Foreign Secretaries - Raab, Truss, Cleverly, Cameron, Lammy and now Cooper, a record only equalled by Sir Dick White, who was "C" between 1956 and 1968. 🤦♂️
Matt Goodwin with his collection of Nigel pictures.
September 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Matt Goodwin with his collection of Nigel pictures.
⁉️ Earlier this year we saw Blaise Metreweli selected as the next "C". But how do you appoint an SIS/MI6 Chief?
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
September 2, 2025 at 9:04 AM
⁉️ Earlier this year we saw Blaise Metreweli selected as the next "C". But how do you appoint an SIS/MI6 Chief?
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
In this Diplomacy & Statecraft article, we use archival material to study the process and the role of officials in picking "C".
The article is free to read:
🔗 t.co/PzFDdPcg2i
Unfortunate choice of quote with that picture 😉
August 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Unfortunate choice of quote with that picture 😉
👀 Extracts from SIS/MI6 "CX" reporting from June 1944.
This example was provided by a French network codenamed HK, covering the port of Bordeaux and includes a map of the docks, the position of shipping and drawings of vessels, smuggled out through courier networks.
This example was provided by a French network codenamed HK, covering the port of Bordeaux and includes a map of the docks, the position of shipping and drawings of vessels, smuggled out through courier networks.
August 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
👀 Extracts from SIS/MI6 "CX" reporting from June 1944.
This example was provided by a French network codenamed HK, covering the port of Bordeaux and includes a map of the docks, the position of shipping and drawings of vessels, smuggled out through courier networks.
This example was provided by a French network codenamed HK, covering the port of Bordeaux and includes a map of the docks, the position of shipping and drawings of vessels, smuggled out through courier networks.
✍️ "Sounds like the vague ramblings of a demented man".
Naval intelligence clearly not impressed by this SIS/MI6 'CX' report from a casual source reporting on the bombing of Lorient in May 1943.
Naval intelligence clearly not impressed by this SIS/MI6 'CX' report from a casual source reporting on the bombing of Lorient in May 1943.
August 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
✍️ "Sounds like the vague ramblings of a demented man".
Naval intelligence clearly not impressed by this SIS/MI6 'CX' report from a casual source reporting on the bombing of Lorient in May 1943.
Naval intelligence clearly not impressed by this SIS/MI6 'CX' report from a casual source reporting on the bombing of Lorient in May 1943.
Tom understands fairness. He went to private school 😉
It's pretty galling that a scheme to widen access into fast track gets a lot of hate, especially when 1/4 senior civil servants were privately educated in 2021.
We're in 2025 and parts of HMG remain a club.
It's pretty galling that a scheme to widen access into fast track gets a lot of hate, especially when 1/4 senior civil servants were privately educated in 2021.
We're in 2025 and parts of HMG remain a club.
August 2, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Tom understands fairness. He went to private school 😉
It's pretty galling that a scheme to widen access into fast track gets a lot of hate, especially when 1/4 senior civil servants were privately educated in 2021.
We're in 2025 and parts of HMG remain a club.
It's pretty galling that a scheme to widen access into fast track gets a lot of hate, especially when 1/4 senior civil servants were privately educated in 2021.
We're in 2025 and parts of HMG remain a club.