Declassified UK Newsletter
Posted: 22nd October 2020
Monday, 19 October 2020
October newsletter
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
A few key developments to inform you about this time.
Since the last newsletter, our blacklisting by the Ministry of Defence has been lifted. Thanks to everyone for your support on this. The MoD has said it was “wrong” not to provide a comment to us on a story and apologised – an unprecedented move.
The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, announced in parliament he has authorised a review of our blacklisting. We’ve inputted into this review and are expecting to see the results of it soon, probably in November. We think our case could raise wider issues about how the MOD deals with journalists and in fact how other government agencies, like GCHQ, deal with journalists – because GCHQ has not exactly been forthcoming either about giving us comments on our investigations.
I’m sure many of you watched Phil Miller’s film about Keenie Meenie Services, the private British mercenary company, that we launched recently. The film has already been viewed thousands of times and is a landmark, and therefore won’t be shown on broadcast TV. You can watch the full film here and catch the launch event here.
A major development is our launch of a new membership programme and crowdfunder, where all those supporting us become members of Declassified and get access to a new range of benefits. We’re starting a monthly online Ask Me Anything for all members and giving you early access to new short films of our investigations that we’re also going to be starting. You can also get new Declassified mugs and t-shirts, and also books authored by us.
There are two places you can become a member. Either go to Enthuse here or if you prefer Patreon here.
You can support us for just £2/month on Enthuse (£3/month on Patreon) – the benefits are the same. This cost is so low, I’m hoping all of you can join. It would make a huge difference to us, help keep us going and keep our journalism free. You can give more of course and receive more benefits.
In case you missed them, our latest stories have been on UK military relations with Israel, Saudi pilots training in Britain, King’s College London’s receipt of millions from the MOD, UK ‘information operations’ during coronavirus, declassified files on how Britain interfered in elections in Chile, and how to hold the UK intelligence agencies accountable.
None were covered by the traditional media – and none will be. That’s how bad things are in the ‘mainstream’, and why we exist.
In the pipeline
Something I mentioned in the last newsletter that we’re still finalising – major new revelations coming up about the UK’s covert role in Kenya, following our world exclusive a few weeks ago about the CIA and MI6’s role in counter-terrorism there.
As I write, Phil Miller is working to uncover the extent of the UK’s overseas military base network and Matt Kennard is looking into the Foreign Office role in Venezuela. We’ve also commissioned independent journalists to write about the unanswered questions concerning the 2017 Manchester bombing and to track a little-known British company working in Yemen.
I mentioned last time we want to do more investigations on UK environmental policies and those affecting international development. We’re also keen to do a series of articles on alternatives – policies that British governments should promote to change things for the better. Look out for these.
As usual, I’d welcome comments on what you’d like to see in this monthly newsletter. And you can also email me with tips and stories – [email protected].
If you become a member, you can also take part in those Ask Me Anythings and put questions to me and the team directly.
Please also encourage others to become a member of Declassified.
Please let friends and colleagues know of our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, on Facebook and on Youtube. All our investigations can be found on our website here.
Thank you again!
Mark
Mark Curtis
Editor, Declassified UK
www.declassifieduk.org
Latest stories
