UK Column News — 11th March 2026

Mike Robinson, Charles Malet and Vanessa Beeley with today's UK Column News. 

 

00:43 Defensive Posture: Starmer’s Iran protestations don’t add up

BBC: US military prepare explosive ordnance at UK air base

Royal Navy on X: HMS Dragon has begun her journey

The News: HMS Dragon departs Portsmouth

BFBS Forces News: Here's why the UK can't just send HMS Prince of Wales to the Gulf

FT: British aircraft carrier will not be sent to Middle East, say officials

UK Column: Military Matters Episode 4

Defence Security Asia: USS Abraham Lincoln Forced to “Flee”

Donald J. Trump on Truth Social

11:29 Iran: Escalation and lunacy

President Trump Holds a Press Conference, Mar. 9, 2026

Ynet - News - Coverage, breaking news and articles from Israel and around the world

B-52s Arrive At U.K. Base As Air Campaign Over Iran Grinds On (Updated)

US Navy tells shipping industry Hormuz escorts not possible for now | Reuters

Iran's Nuclear Facilities: Status Updates | Arms Control Association

Telegram: View @iranscreenshot1

21:09 Epstein: No sign of promised Mandelson Files

Epstein had two key aides - so why do they still control his money and secrets? - BBC News 

24:28 Check out UKC’s website and support our work

Homepage | UKColumn

Support the UK Column

Event: Questioning History and Science Event – The Truth University

26:13 Digital ID: Being relentlessly pushed

Making public services work for you with your digital identity - GOV.UK

Cybernetica

Cybernetica and TBI pilot Wallet solution to combat fraud in Kenya | Cybernetica 

32:17 What Matters: Government social cohesion plans are anything but

Protecting What Matters (policy paper)

National Security Strategy 2025

Strategic Defence Review 2025

House of Commons Library: Conscription and national service in the UK 

39:25 House of Lords: Reforms will remove opposition to government excess

Hereditary Peers Bill passes in House of Lords, paving the way for further reform - GOV.UK

41:02 Lebanon: Update and analysis

War with Iran: Lebanon calls for direct talks with Israel, accuses Hezbollah of betraying country | CNN

Israel prepares for ‘extended campaign’ against Lebanon even if Iran war wraps up: Report

Hezbollah precision guided missiles for the first time https://x.com/TheCradleMedia/status/2031032704200782091

Israeli army carries out new landing operation in east Lebanon’s Bekaa

Telegram: View @thecradlemedia

44:58 Fog of War: How defensive posture affects UK people 

Chris Wright’s deleted tweet about the Strait of Hormuz

MarineTraffic.com shows positions of vessels

Oil Price Surges (oilprice.com)

Bank of England: Interest Rates and Bank Rate (5 February 2026)

Morning Star: UK Mortgage Rates Rise Amid Iran War—What It Means for Borrowers and House Prices

Financial Times: FTSE All Share Defence and Aerospace

The Security Service: Terrorism threat levels

Times of Israel: Iranian Police Chief threatens protestors

Met Police Statement on Al-Quds March

50:27 ISIS: To border with Lebanon

Syrian president vows 'absolute support' to disarm Hezbollah

US begins transfer of ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq | The Jerusalem Post

ODNI's National Counterterrorism Center Provided Critical Intelligence, Coordinated with CENTCOM in Successful Transfer of 6,000 ISIS Detainees from Syria to Iraq | Office of the Director of National Intelligence 

54:35 AI: Fear narrative used to justify tech investment

UK £500M AI Fund | Sovereign AI Launch April 16th

What is sovereign AI? Enterprise AI for global compliance

British 'sovereign AI platform' raises £11m - UKTN 

59:18 Book: Real human authors pushback against AI

The Society of Authors: Don’t Steal This Book

Authors’ Guild: Human Authored Certification