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Defence digest: a fallen admiral, a rebrand and a new adviser at the MoD
The previous First Sea Lord was stripped of his commission, while Strategic Command changes identity again and Professor Malcolm Chalmers goes to work…
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Eliot Wilson
Prime Ministers should never take the House of Commons for granted
Keir Starmer's advisers complain that Labour MPs have "main character syndrome", expecting a busy PM to flatter their egos; he should, because he needs…
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Eliot Wilson
3
A rare win for scrutiny: the Intelligence and Security Committee
The government has made a concession to Parliament; it may be grudging and long overdue, but let's be gracious and take the win for oversight
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Eliot Wilson
Starmer goes nuclear: UK back in the air game
The RAF may soon regain the ability to launch tactical nuclear weapons, but this embrace of smaller devices is fraught with risk and potentially…
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Eliot Wilson

June 2025

Sunday round-up 29 June 2025
A big day for Romans as it is the Feast of SS Peter and Paul; candles for Gary Busey and Amanda Donohoe; a black day for (Sir) Roger Casement
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Eliot Wilson
NATO's Article 5: collective security
The obligations among member states enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty are not watertight and mean nothing without personnel, resources…
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Eliot Wilson
Sunday round-up 22 June 2025
The Hampstead Tube opens, the title of "Emperor of India" is omitted from the royal style and titles, and St John Fisher and St Thomas More are…
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Eliot Wilson
4
The new National Security Strategy: joining the dots or sleight of hand?
A broad definition of "national security" can show sophisticated policy-making or offer a way to cook the books when it comes to public expenditure…
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Eliot Wilson
Sunday round-up 15 June 2025
Magna Carta is agreed, the Battle of Kosovo is fought, birthday cake for Simon Callow, Noddy Holder, Xi Jinping and Ice Cube and we dance to mark St…
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Eliot Wilson
3
For King and Country: should the British Army accept more Commonwealth recruits?
A leaked memo to Downing Street proposes a tiny increase in the cap on Commonwealth recruits; it will not be transformative but can prompt other…
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Eliot Wilson
Trump is itching to flex military might: calling out the National Guard
The President has activated 4,000 National Guard personnel and a US Marine infantry battalion to deal with disorder in Los Angeles, and the state is…
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Eliot Wilson
1
Sunday round-up 8 June 2025
Millicent Martin, Nancy Sinatra and Bonnie Tyler walk into a birthday party... and marking the Viking raid on Lindisfarne, St Jadwiga's Day and French…
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Eliot Wilson
1
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