Britain's military says it has stopped researching UFOs and has 'no plans' to start again

By CLAIRE ELLIOT, SCOTTISH GENERAL NEWS REPORTER Published: 20:40, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 20:40, 4 August 2026 It sounds more like a plot straight out of The X-Files. But a Scots UFO enthusiast has claimed the UK government is hiding the truth about a string of unexplained sightings in the nation’s skies that has fascinated paranormal buffs for decades. Malcolm Robinson, from Alloa, had written to Keir Starmer requesting that information on all UFO reports be released to the public in the interests of ‘transparency’. But after being informed by the MoD that it stopped keeping records of mysterious flying objects nearly 20 years ago he has now repeated his plea to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and has called for him to ‘follow the lead of your American cousins’. Earlier this summer the United States government released scores of UFO files, with descriptions of reported sightings of orbs, discs and fireballs spanning 80 years, some of which occurred only last year. In his letter, Mr Robinson said it was time for the UK to do the same by declassifying all ‘relevant files, reports, and footage that can safely be made public and to establish an independent inquiry into sightings across the UK’. He added: ‘If the United States government is prepared to acknowledge unexplained incursions into its airspace and provide evidence to the public, why does the British government continue to dismiss calls for greater transparency? ‘The British people deserve to be informed about matters that affect their airspace and national security. Tales of aliens visiting Earth have persisted for decades One of the most spectacular images of a UFO was taken in the hills above the A9 in Scotland in 1990. Referred to as The Calvine Incident, the object appeared to dwarf a Harrier jet ‘The United States has begun that process. It is now time for the UK to do the same.’ He told the Mail that he was ‘disappointed’ that his calls had fallen on deaf ears after years of campaigning to Westminster leaders and he said if its official line continued to be ‘we’re not interested’ he will ask the Scottish Government to get involved. The 69-year-old said: ‘The bottom line is, be clear, be transparent.  Here in the UK we have as much a UFO mystery as anywhere else in the world and we just want answers from the Ministry of Defence. ‘We want the government to join forces with America and accept that we have some form of vehicles operating in our airspace, which are not our own helicopters or aircraft.’ He added that he would not have been investigating strange phenomenon for 45 years if he ‘didn’t honestly believe that we're dealing with something real, something tangible, something off world, and something that demands an explanation.’ Scotland’s became a hotbed for mysterious sightings in the ‘90s after what is still regarded as one of the most spectacular images of a UFO was taken in the hills above the A9 on August 4, 1990. The famous snap was taken by a hotel porter out walking with a friend and according to his brief written account, the shape, which dwarfed a nearby Harrier jet, hung in the air for about ten minutes before ascending vertically at high speed and vanishing. It went on to become one of the greatest government conspiracies after the image of the mysterious object vanished, as did the man who took it. Nearly 60,000 pages of declassified UFO reports and correspondence were transferred to The National Archives in 2013 but the files only covered up to the end of 2009 Furthermore, the Mail revealed in 2023 that instead of releasing information about the incident as would normally happen after 30 years, the MoD requested that the names of the witnesses should remain sealed for a further 54 years until 2076 because of 'privacy concerns'. Among a string of other sightings that have captured imaginations over the years was the flood of accounts of mystery objects spotted over central Scotland which came to be known as the Falkirk Triangle. Mr Robinson, who has written several books on the subject, has been investigating the paranormal since 1979 when he set up Strange Phenomena Investigations and now works alongside fellow enthusiasts and authors Willy Devlin and Stephen Bird. In its response to his request, the MoD said: ‘We are aware that the United States has recently disclosed files relating to UAP; however, the MOD do not comment on US security arrangements, including their handling, disclosure, or publication of related material.  The MOD has not produced any new material on the investigation or reporting of UFOs or UAPs and has no plans to establish a dedicated team or resume research in this area.’ The letter added: ‘Defence resources remain focused on activities that directly support national security.’ A MoD spokesman said last night: ‘Nearly 60,000 pages of previously restricted documentation on UFO reports and correspondence have been declassified and transferred to The National Archives, where they are fully accessible for viewing.’ The files, released in 2013, end in 2009.