London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026

Government UFO hunters may reopen 'Britain's X-Files' and track down alien life

Government UFO hunters may reopen 'Britain's X-Files' and track down alien life

Britain could revive its UFO desk depending on the findings of a report into extra terrestrials due out next month from the US Pentagon's UAP Task Force, it has been claimed

A specialist team of alien hunters could be recalled by the Government after the findings of a US report into extra terrestrials are revealed, it has been claimed.

The Ministry of Defence's dedicated UFO desk has been defunct since 2009 but a Pentagon probe into unidentified flying objects - now called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena - could see it revived.

The US Congress is set to be presented with the unclassified report in June on evidence collected by a UAP Task Force, the Office of Naval Intelligence and the FBI.

It has been labelled a landmark moment by Ufologists and a senior defence source said Downing Street certainly "wouldn't rule out" reforming the UFO desk if the findings call for it.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, they said: "I think that if there was enough evidence to suggest that there was something, and that we needed to do it as well as the US, then of course we'd think about it.

Nick Pope previously investigated UFO activity for the Ministry of Defence


"We'd look at it. There's all sorts of things that we wouldn't rule out, and this would certainly be one of them."

They added that as science and technology evolve "whole new universes" can "suddenly open up" and it is important Britain remains on top of the situation, to "identify [and] track objects".

RAF Flyingdales tracks objects through space and the source said it could work alongside the US in future.

It comes after Lord Black asked the Government this month if it had any role in the US Task Force and whether there had been any information exchange.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as Mulder and Scully in TV show The X-Files


Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said the UK "does not have a role" with the Task Force and "has not contributed" to the US report, though added the MoD is aware of it but can't comment further until it is released.

Nick Pope previously investigated UFOs for the MoD's Secretariat Airstaff but told the Telegraph the job did not involve running "around darkened warehouses...guns drawn" like on TV show The X-Files.

He said it was more about checking radar tapes of possible UFO sightings and liaising with air force experts, but said halting investigations altogether was a "huge mistake".

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Heatwave Disrupts Transport, Healthcare and Public Services as Red Weather Alerts Expand Nationwide
Barclays Warns of Growing Cyber Risk Divide Between Large UK Firms and Micro Businesses
European Defence Plans Including Ukraine Integration Prompt UK Strategic Reassessment
UK Equity Markets React as US–Iran Peace Roadmap Eases Oil Price Pressures
United Kingdom Expands Global Clean Energy Partnerships With Brazil, Morocco and Tanzania
Lord David Frost Urges Incoming UK Leadership to Abandon EU Regulatory Reset Strategy
Housing Groups Support Amendment to Strengthen Fire and Gas Safety Access Powers in Social Housing
South London NHS Estates Staff Ballot on Industrial Action Over Pay Structures in Hospital Maintenance Services
United Kingdom Government Invests £60 Million in AI Research Labs at Oxford and University College London
Barclays Cyber Security Report Highlights Rising Threat Exposure Among UK Small Businesses in AI-Driven Attacks
UK Met Office Heatwave Triggers Transport Warnings as Rail Operators Urge Cancellations Amid Infrastructure Strain
South London NHS Estates Workers Ballot for Strike Action Over Pay Disputes Across Major London Hospitals
Barclays Warns of Severe Cyber Security Gap Between Large Corporations and Small Businesses in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom Government Allocates £60 Million for Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratories at Oxford and UCL
National Health Service Approves Teplizumab Treatment to Delay Onset of Type One Diabetes in First European Rollout
Met Office Issues Rare Red Extreme Heat Warning Across London, South East and West Midlands as Transport and Health Systems Face Disruption
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Resigns After Labour Party Revolt Following Economic Stagnation and Local Election Losses
United Kingdom Economy Contracts for Second Consecutive Month as Private Sector Weakens and Job Loss Fears Rise
Taxpayer Support Grows for Higher Digital Levies on Multinational Tech Companies
Bank of England Signals Caution Over Inflation Despite Easing Energy Prices
Lloyds Banking Group Expands Artificial Intelligence Hiring Amid Sector-Wide Automation Shift
Film Producer Corporate Collapse Leaves Creditors Facing Unrecoverable Losses
UK Ten-Year Brexit Anniversary Highlights Ongoing Political and Economic Uncertainty
Nottingham Maternity Scandal Inquiry Reveals Systemic Failings in NHS Care
Met Office Heatwave Prompts Public Health Warnings Across United Kingdom
Concerns Rise Over Fiscal Stability as Political Uncertainty Weighs on UK Borrowing Costs
UK Taxpayers Back Higher Digital Taxes on Global Technology Firms, Survey Shows
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Persistent Services Inflation
Reform UK and Opposition Leaders Call for General Election Following Starmer’s Departure
Ten Years After Brexit Referendum, UK Faces Ongoing Political Fragmentation and Economic Debate
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Inquiry Exposes Severe NHS Failures
Met Office Issues Heat Health Alerts as United Kingdom Faces Record-Breaking Temperatures
Andy Burnham Emerges as Front-Runner for Labour Leadership After Starmer’s Resignation
Keir Starmer Resigns as UK Enters New Phase of Political Leadership Transition
UK Expands Alcohol Ban Enforcement Using Tagging Technology Ahead of World Cup
UK Invests £50 Million in Critical Minerals Supply Chain Security
UK Appoints Special Envoy on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
UK Introduces Fines for Landlords of Unsafe Rental Properties
Reform UK Leads Opinion Polls as Immigration Debate Reshapes UK Politics
Police Investigate Edinburgh Attacks as Potential Hate Crimes
King Charles to Publish Personal Tax and Royal Household Financial Records
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Inquiry Report Set for Publication
Heat-Health Alerts Issued Across London and Southern England Amid Rising Temperatures
UK Economy Shows Pressure From Middle East Conflict Despite Modest Growth
Brexit Anniversary Reignites Debate Over UK Economic and Political Direction
UK Parliament Continues Legislative Work Amid Leadership Transition
Financial Markets Hold Steady After UK Leadership Shake-Up
Andy Burnham Enters Labour Leadership Race With Strong Parliamentary Backing
Keir Starmer Resigns as UK Prime Minister After Two Years in Office
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson to Raise Pension Concerns Over British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
×