The British Army secretly relaxed its security vetting for at least two years letting in a far-right extremist who boasted of his support for Russia and Vladimir Putin, The i Paper can reveal.
The security downgrade, which lasted from at least September 2022 to September 2024, means that more than 13,000 recruits joined the Army without having to pass full background checks.
It remains unclear how many recruits joined without the full clearance during the same period.
New soldiers were allowed to pass from basic training into specialist training – such as for infantry, logistics or signals – without being cleared by background checks into their identity, immigration status, criminal records and a review by the security services.
The move to relax security checks allowed the Army to speed up recruitment during a post-Covid backlog.
However, the revelation raises serious concerns over how the Army can be targeted by extremists and hostile state actors, amid mounting concerns over espionage and infiltration attempts.
The key claims made by Earl Spencer so far about the Royal Family
Earl Charles Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has revealed all in a new book about his sister’s life.
What you need to know
Charles Spencer makes a number of shocking claims in his controversial new book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
The memoir features allegations about the King’s state of mind immediately following Diana’s death, as well as some revelations about his sister herself.
Spencer’s key claims
Spencer alleged Charles sounded like a “lottery winner” after receiving news of Diana’s death.
Spencer also claimed Diana considered suicide but love for her sons “stopped her from going further”.
He claimed Diana had ADHD and also suffered from Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.
Reactions to the book
- A spokesperson for the King said: “His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”
- The former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II described the claims of Charles sounding “giddily elated” as “hogwash”.
- Royal commentator Jennie Bond told the BBC Spencer’s “vindictive account” was “extraordinary”.
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The universities crowned best in the UK
and have unveiled the top universities in the UK in their .
The top 5 universities listed
- 1 The University of St Andrews
- 2The London School of Economics
- 3
- 4 The University of Cambridge
- 5 The University of Oxford
What has changed?
Oxford fell from fourth to fifth place with Cambridge remaining in fourth.
Oxbridge institutions dropped out of the top three for only the second time in the UK university guide’s 33-year history.
Imperial was named University of the Year after it climbed three places in the rankings from sixth place last year.
The expert view
[St Andrews has a] distinctive undergraduate experience that translates to superb rates of student satisfaction
Zoe Thomas, author of The Times and The Sunday Times Good Guide 2027
All the areas Reform is planning to target next
Reform UK is preparing a huge expansion of its operations around the country in a bid to attract voters in areas where it does not have a foothold, as it bids to put Nigel Farage in Downing Street.
Reform is advertising positions
The party is advertising 51 new campaigning roles across parts of England, Wales and Scotland, including for campaign managers and branch co-ordinators.
Exclusive analysis by The i Paper shows that Reform is focusing much of its hiring blitz in areas where it doesn’t yet have a strong electoral footing.
Which areas is Reform pushing into?
Reform advertised three roles in London where it holds just one seat on the London Assembly.
The South-East
Reform advertised five roles here. The party has just three seats in Surrey and one in Oxfordshire.
The South-West
The South-West has the heaviest hiring out of the three, with seven roles advertised. Reform holds one MP in the region.
How does the rest of the map look?
The East and West Midlands each have a branch network co-ordinator and a senior campaign manager advertised.
The North-West follows the same pattern, with a branch network co-ordinator and senior campaign manager sitting alongside five county-level campaign manager posts.
Reform also took Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland councils directly from Labour control in May, while in West Yorkshire the party now runs Wakefield and Calderdale councils outright and is the largest party in Kirklees.
4 min read
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
4 min read
A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
2 min read
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
2 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
5 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
- Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
- Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
- Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
- Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
Army engineer Daniel Khalife was jailed for spying for Iran last year. A British military instructor was imprisoned by Ukraine in May for passing secrets to Russia, and suspicious activity has been reported around British military bases in the UK and abroad.
The vetting downgrade was uncovered after an Army chef, Mark Broadhurst, was arrested by counter-terror police in September 2024.
The 28-year-old, who had boasted: “I support Russia because of Putin’s truth bombs on the West,” was convicted of firearms and explosives offences.
He had been trying to build a homemade gun which he threatened to use against Muslims.
Despite networking online with a neo-Nazi cell and making a gun and explosives at his home, Broadhurst did not prompt any concerns within the Army until he was arrested.
His vetting had not been completed, despite him applying to join the Army in 2022 and entering basic training in May 2023. He went on to work as a chef at Catterick Garrison – Britain’s largest military base.
The Ministry of Defence has not confirmed the length of time that security checks were not being carried out on new recruits, but Broadhurst’s case suggests it spanned at least two years during which 13,083 untrained starters joined the British Army.
It is not known who implemented the policy, meant that soldiers could pass from Phase 1 basic training into Phase 2, where they enter specialisms, without vetting being completed. However, it was in place under the Conservative defence secretary Ben Wallace. He was approached for comment.
The policy not to carry out security checks has since been rescinded, and vetting must now be complete by the end of basic training in order for recruits to progress.
Tobias Ellwood, a former Tory minister who chaired the Commons Defence Committee between 2020 and 2023, said he was not aware of the policy – and that he would have launched an investigation if alerted to it.
Ellwood told The i Paper that while initial training is “very basic” and involves exercises, marching and fitness regimes, in Phase 2, soldiers receive greater access to military knowledge, tactics, weapons, equipment and facilities.
“It’s when you are assigned to your next job, whether it’s to become a chef for an officers’ mess, for example, where there are senior officers kicking around, or if you are assigned to work in the staff of a division headquarters,” he added.
“It’s also dangerous, because in Phase 2 you bond very deeply with other recruits, which might be part of the purpose of joining – to rally and recruit from within.
“This drop in standards is concerning.”
Dr Dan Lomas of the University of Nottingham, a security expert specialising in vetting, said that even basic information on the movement of troops and exercise locations could be useful to spies.
“When we think about spying and espionage, we often think of people stealing classified information from secure facilities,” he said. “But the nature of things these days mean that low-level information can be just as important to a hostile foreign state.”
Lomas said that the purpose of vetting was to guard against “insider threats” and search for indications that recruits could pose a risk, or be vulnerable to external pressure.
“Because you’re getting a group of people who see themselves as patriotic joining the military, the extreme right-wing is one of the potential issues,” he added. “You don’t want these guys to be weapons-trained.”
He said the UK vetting system was still “not robust enough”, even with checks on recruits, because it relied significantly on voluntary disclosures and pre-existing official records.
“As long as you’ve not come to the attention of the police or the security services, you can easily pass,” Lomas warned.
The policy operated during a period of delays in UK Security Vetting (UKSV), which provides vetting services for the MoD, government departments, public bodies and sectors such as aviation.
A National Audit Office report said that because of post-Covid backlogs, a “delivery stabilisation plan” was launched in January 2022. The plan saw Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearances – which are required for Army recruits – delayed by efforts to prioritise higher-level “developed vetting” applications.
The watchdog said that vetting aimed to “act as a deterrent and in preventing malign individuals from getting access to sensitive government information and assets”, and was of “vital importance”.
Britain, alongside its Nato allies, is scrambling to shore up its military power in the face of the growing threat posed by Russia.
The UK Armed Forces have been in decline since the 1990s and subjected to repeated funding cuts, with more than 125,000 service personnel leaving in the last three decades. In 2024, the forces fell below their target size for full-time trained strength, for the first time since the target was set.
In contrast, Russian forces have increased in size since the Cold War and vastly exceed the number of British personnel. Russia’s army is estimated to have about one million active personnel, despite suffering heavy losses in Ukraine.
CTC vetting involves checks on identity, immigration status, criminal records and previous employment, as well as the completion of a security questionnaire. Names are examined against Security Service records.
It is the least complex form of vetting and is for people who work near public figures; access information of potential interest to terrorists; or have unescorted access to military, civil, industrial or commercial establishments deemed to be at risk of attack.
At the other end of the scale, developed vetting is the most complex. It requires extensive background checks, as well as interviews with the applicant and people connected to them. It allows individuals access to more sensitive government assets and top-secret information.
As part of the Army application process, new soldiers are also interviewed by recruiters and attend a two-day assessment in person, including physical and mental tests, and team exercises.
An Army spokesperson said vetting processes have since been strengthened, adding: “There is absolutely no place in the British Army for racist or extremist ideology, which is wholly incompatible with our values.
“The Armed Forces have robust measures in place to identify, investigate and tackle extremist behaviour, and we continually review those measures to ensure they remain effective as the threat evolves.”
Extremist in the Army who spoke of support of Putin
Counter-terror police began investigating Broadhurst because of his involvement in an online chat group involving three neo-Nazis, who were later jailed for plotting terror attacks on migrants and mosques.
In November 2022 – months after applying to join the British Army – Broadhurst asked the group if there had been any cases of “Nazis or any right-wingers starting a revolution in the Army”.
The following month, he told the group he was trying to build a homemade gun that he intended to make available to like-minded extremists and doomsday “preppers”.
During a discussion about “killing P**is”, Broadhurst wrote: “I’m in.” He said his homemade gun would mean that “Christchurch ain’t seen nothing”, referring to the murder of 51 Muslims in New Zealand by a white supremacist in 2019.
In February 2023, as he was approaching the start of basic training, Broadhurst attended a protest by the white nationalist group Patriotic Alternative in Skegness. He was photographed holding a sign reading: “Stop the invasion. We will not be replaced.”
In the extremist chat group later that month, he wrote about his views of the Ukraine war.
Broadhurst, now 28, said he supported Ukraine “solely because of nationalism and Azov battalion”, referring to a military unit previously associated with neo-Nazism, adding: “But I also support Russia because Putins truth bombs on the west [].”
Broadhurst provided his fellow extremists with updates on his progress in the Army. He said he wanted to be an infantry soldier but had to become a chef, because of a fitness test.
His views appeared unchanged after going into training, and he communicated with Patriotic Alternative regularly until July 2024, complaining that the Army was “full of subversive woke ideology” and saying he was thinking of “terrorising” migrants in Calais.
When police searched his home in Chesterfield after his arrest in September 2024, they found a homemade gun and explosive material, alongside two crossbows, an axe, multiple knives and far-right memorabilia.
Broadhurst admitted firearms and explosives offences, but denied intending to use his weapon or having a terrorist motivation. After a trial of fact at Sheffield Crown Court, a judge ruled that his crimes had a “terrorist connection”. He will be sentenced next month.
He was allowed to continue serving in the Army while on bail during the case, and he received three character references from his superiors.
One sergeant, who had left the Army at the point he wrote the statement, described Broadhurst as “a good person with a solid character and a strong work ethic”, after supervising him for a year.
Another sergeant, who remains in service, said Broadhurst was a “generally well-liked” and “fundamentally decent individual”, adding: “Based on my observations he possesses the capacity to learn from mistakes, respond properly to direction and develop into a capable junior non-commissioned officer in the future.”