Some thoughts on the PM’s appearance on Gogglebox and the risks of politicians embracing light entertainment. whorunsbritain.blogs.lincoln…

The carving of a spy by Francesco Pianta on a wooden altar front (1657-58) in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice is quite something. #ArtofSpying

Intelligence and Security Committee has launched what looks like a fairly wide-ranging inquiry into the production & use of intelligence assessments and security advice, including by Ministers, as well as reviewing the effectiveness of coordination across the intel community 😳

Morning visit to @BBCRadioLincs to talk about Andy Burnham’s appearance on Gogglebox. Forced to admit I’ve never watched Gogglebox and won’t be watching tonight.

Delighted to get hold of a copy of @thomascaygill book on the UK Parliament. Some really useful content here.

I’ve been doing this for a while and I’m accustomed to updating lectures to take account of the political churn, but this still brings me up short. Six Prime Ministerial resignations in 10 years. TBH I don’t really know how to explain it.

We don’t often hear about the staff who work diligently behind the scenes to support the work of the Intelligence and Security Committee. This is a rare and fitting tribute to Emma-Louise Avery who is retiring as Director and CEO of the ISC after more than 20 years service.

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.

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.

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

Elizabeth Smily was an accomplished artist who also painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She later moved to Canada. She died in 2014 aged 96. I came across this report from a local Vancouver newspaper about the transfer of her painting of Odette to @I_W_M

Odette Churchill (Sansom/Hallowes) by the artist Elizabeth Smily (née Wolf) from @I_W_M collection. Not sure the date on the top is correct as Sansom didn’t marry Peter Churchill until 1947, but a lovely portrait which I don’t think I’ve seen before #ArtofSpying

Looking through this summer’s gallery visits. Archdukes Albert & Isabella of the Habsburg Netherlands by Frans Porbus II from the Groeninge in Bruges. Albert & Isabella were the principal beneficiaries of the intelligence activities of the painter Peter Paul Rubens #ArtofSpying

Today’s @TourofBritain photos - in Louth today. Just popped around the corner, great stuff.