Excl w/ @GLJourno & @millixshaw: Sheffield Hallam University - accused of dropping research into slave labour after pressure from China - failed to alert ministers about possible foreign interference, despite repeated warnings to do so. Prof Laura Murphy, who led the research, urged the university to report her concerns to the government, but internal emails from Aug 2024 suggest she was ignored. The Times understands it was Whitehall that eventually initiated contact in Oct 2024 - after being alerted by a third party. The university insists it “reported relevant matters” to the government, but could not say when contact was made, who made it, or what was discussed. Comes as more academics told The Times that Chinese interference in UK universities is becoming increasingly “insidious”. thetimes.com/article/34e787d…