Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Lincoln, UK. Parliament, the intelligence services, a little bit of social policy. Views are my own.
Lincoln
Joined July 2009
- Tweets8.5K
- Following3.6K
- Followers3.7K
- Likes16K
Andrew Defty retweeted
"The bronze sculpture, designed by Norwegian artist Håkon Anton Fagerås at his studio in Italy, depicts two figures carrying out surveillance and serves as a memorial to the intelligence cooperation between Norway and Britain during World War II".
townandcountrymag.com/societ…
Andrew Defty retweeted
Huge result from our members at the University of Lincoln.
85% have voted YES to strike action in the fight to save jobs, on a 60% turnout, with 88% also backing action short of a strike.
After four consecutive years of job losses, our members have sent a clear message: enough is enough.
Massive solidarity to everyone at Lincoln UCU.
ucu.org.uk/article/14674/Uni…
Andrew Defty retweeted
The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) has sent an open letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell, calling on her to reverse the cut to funding for university creative and performing arts courses. artsprofessional.co.uk/news/…
Andrew Defty retweeted
It was great to give a lecture at the @unilincoln today on how to predict the future
Decision science has given us the techniques to make our judgements explicit, transparent, and better reasoned - which done correctly massively increases our ability to predict what’s coming
Great interactive lecture today from @NwprtNarrative from @swift_centre about forecasting. Much food for thought for intelligence studies students (and scholars) about the process of forecasting, probability yardsticks and communicating with decision makers.
Andrew Defty retweeted
"I've calculated that if we eliminate staff and keep the same number of students enrolled, our financial problems will be solved. Why did we have all those people in the first place?!"
University of Lincoln has disposed of over 500 members of staff since 2024. As we start a new academic year management have refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies this year. @UCU at Lincoln is balloting its members about their willingness to take industrial action.
Andrew Defty retweeted
Cf. Jan van Eyck for the Burgundian court; after 1425 he was appointed valet de chambre to Philip the Good, having already served John III the Pitiless, Count of Holland and Hainaut (former Prince-Bishop of Liège), in that capacity from 1422.
I have a pile of reading for the new term but the last of the summer reading was Elizabeth Goldring’s gorgeous Holbein: Renaissance Master. It seems likely that Holbein, like many other court painters, also carried out intelligence missions for his powerful sponsors. #ArtofSpying
Andrew Defty retweeted
This is a post that sums up all of us in Universities we are starting term either in dispute, or with the threat of redundancy or with massive understaffing because of previous jobs cuts. Its very depressing. Because my experience of most academics is they do enjoy teaching students.
Andrew Defty retweeted
Published today and available in all good bookshops or so I'm told!
geni.us/TheBoyWithTheKnapsac…
Andrew Defty retweeted
On universities wasting their money on pointless restructures and outsourcing which damage morale. I suspect some universities even spend a fortune more hiring consultants to find out why morale is so damaged.
timeshighereducation.com/new…
Andrew Defty retweeted
Louth, that was spectacular! 😍
Thank you for your amazing support 👏
📺 Watch the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men LIVE on YouTube: youtube.com/live/hciRAY1nDP8…
Andrew Defty retweeted
A university is not a commodity.
Lincoln Bishop University is set to be effectively privatised following its takeover by Global University Systems.
Staff did not create this crisis and must not be made to pay for it.
UCU will fight to protect jobs, conditions and the university’s educational mission.
ucu.org.uk/article/14628/UCU…
Andrew Defty retweeted
This is well worth a read. For staff at many @UniversitiesUK institution, your union reps will be going through this now on your behalf. We should applaud them. I would not have the ability to tollerate the manaement BS.
@ucu @unitetheunion
isrf.org/blog/negotiating-th…
Andrew Defty retweeted
Hostile states targeting House of Lords using cloned voices and deepfake video calls, Speaker warns
telegraph.co.uk/politics/202…
Andrew Defty retweeted
👀 My history of UK national security vetting is now advertised for paperback release ⏬️
Available to pre-order via the @BloomsburyAcad website.
🔗 bloomsbury.com/uk/secret-his…
⁉️ What is UK national security vetting, and how has the current system evolved to meet insider threats?
Really pleased to see this political, social, and cultural history of British vetting finally reach @BloomsburyBooks's website.
🗓 Out June 2025
🔗 bloomsbury.com/uk/secret-his…
Andrew Defty retweeted
So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. Lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Gone without a whisper
Andrew Defty retweeted
A very well made argument. Academics, professional service staff and students could make universities in #England truly civic institutions if their governance was genuinely democratic. Power in #England has been devolved to market actors, not citizens. .share.google/UANtyuAD3AMmLCl…
Andrew Defty retweeted
Today, we welcomed Prime Minister @andyburnham launching No.10 North in our Heron House offices. Director GCHQ Anne Keast-Butler welcomed the Prime Minister with a note.
Find out more gchq.gov.uk/news/no10-north-…
Andrew Defty retweeted
MI5 ‘could have prevented’ collapse of China spy case
telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07…
