Why UK Journalists Won’t Write About the MoD: A Web of Corruption and Cover-Ups

When it comes to investigative journalism, the UK has a storied history of brave reporting on political scandals, corruption, and corporate malfeasance. Yet, one topic remains conspicuously absent from headlines: the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Despite the MoD's significant influence, power, and role in international affairs, UK journalists have seemingly steered clear of exposing its deeply disturbing underbelly—a world rife with corruption, cover-ups, and criminality.

At the heart of these issues is the former Secretary of Defence, Ben Wallace, who, according to various reports, used journalists to whitewash the misconduct within the MoD, including cases of spousal abuse, domestic violence, rape, pedophilia, and even murder. The question must be asked: Why are UK journalists too scared to report on these atrocities, and how deep does this cover-up really go?

The MoD, responsible for managing Britain’s defense strategy and military forces, holds enormous sway over both national and international security matters. Its influence stretches from the highest ranks of government to military operations in various global hotspots, including the Middle East and Africa. However, behind the polished facade of patriotism and protection lies a sinister truth: the MoD has allegedly engaged in systematic cover-ups of egregious crimes committed by its personnel.

According to multiple sources, crimes within the MoD's ranks range from spousal abuse and domestic violence to rape and pedophilia. While this may come as a shock to many, what's even more disturbing is the claim that these incidents have been routinely swept under the rug, with perpetrators shielded from prosecution.

Take the case of military personnel involved in domestic violence against their partners. Victims who dared to come forward were often met with silence, intimidation, or forced relocations—anything to avoid scandal. Rape and sexual violence cases have similarly been muffled. These are not just isolated incidents but part of a much broader pattern of abuse that the MoD has worked hard to conceal from the public eye.

Ben Wallace, who served as the Secretary of Defence from 2019 to 2023, has come under scrutiny for allegedly using journalists to protect the MoD from public scrutiny. By controlling the media narrative and influencing coverage, Wallace helped ensure that the criminal activities within the MoD were not exposed, keeping damaging stories out of the headlines.

Wallace, a former soldier himself, had the power to wield significant influence over the media during his tenure. He is accused of leveraging relationships with key journalists to bury stories that could have jeopardized his standing or exposed the MoD's deeper systemic issues. Reporters who might have had the courage to investigate were allegedly dissuaded, either by threats of legal action or subtle reminders of the MoD's immense power.

Why would Wallace and other MoD officials go to such lengths to keep these crimes under wraps? The reasons are twofold: maintaining the reputation of the armed forces and avoiding the political fallout that would inevitably follow such scandals. The MoD depends heavily on public trust to justify its budget, recruit personnel, and maintain its standing on the global stage. Any tarnish to that image—especially one involving crimes as heinous as rape, pedophilia, and domestic violence—could have devastating consequences.

The MoD’s influence doesn’t stop at the UK’s borders. Its actions abroad, particularly in Africa, have also drawn criticism, though once again, these stories rarely see the light of day in mainstream UK media.

Reports suggest that UK soldiers have fathered children during military operations in African nations, only to leave those children behind, unsupported and abandoned. In many cases, these soldiers returned to the UK without ever acknowledging the existence of their offspring, leaving the local populations to deal with the fallout. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of misconduct and irresponsibility by military personnel in foreign territories.

What’s even worse is that, much like the domestic crimes committed by soldiers, these stories have been systematically covered up by the MoD. There is little to no accountability for the soldiers who have engaged in such behavior, and the children left behind are essentially forgotten—casualties of the MoD's disregard for the consequences of its actions abroad.

The absence of journalistic coverage on these issues raises an important question: Why are UK journalists so reluctant to report on the MoD? The simple answer is fear. The MoD is an immensely powerful institution, and going up against it can have serious consequences for reporters and media outlets alike. The government’s use of the Official Secrets Act, combined with the threat of legal action and the potential loss of access to key military figures and stories, creates an environment where journalists are reluctant to bite the hand that feeds them.

Moreover, there is a broader cultural issue at play. The British public tends to hold the military in high regard, viewing soldiers as heroes who defend the nation. Any attempt to expose the dark side of military life could be seen as unpatriotic or anti-British, which would naturally attract backlash. In this atmosphere, journalists may find it safer to ignore these stories altogether rather than risk alienating readers or facing personal and professional repercussions.

But fear is only part of the problem. Some suggest that certain journalists may be complicit in these cover-ups, either out of loyalty to the establishment or due to personal relationships with those in power. In either case, the result is the same: the crimes of the MoD remain hidden, and justice is denied to the victims.

The allegations against the MoD go far beyond individual acts of violence or abuse. What we are seeing is a system that enables and even encourages this kind of behavior, all while shielding perpetrators from accountability. Soldiers who commit crimes—whether it be domestic violence, sexual assault, or even murder—are rarely held accountable. Instead, they are protected by a bureaucracy that values the reputation of the armed forces over justice for the victims.

This system extends to military operations abroad, where the MoD’s disregard for local populations and the human toll of its actions is glaringly apparent. Children abandoned in African countries, atrocities committed in the name of security—these are not just isolated incidents but part of a much larger pattern of neglect and abuse.

The MoD's crimes—both at home and abroad—are a sobering reminder of the dark side of power. As long as journalists remain silent, complicit, or too afraid to expose the truth, these atrocities will continue unchecked. The MoD will continue to hide behind a veneer of respectability, while those who suffer because of its actions are left without recourse.

So, the final question must be asked: Are men always going to get away with it because journalists are too scared to report on it?