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Robin Potter

@robinpotter.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.3K following 256 posts

Academy Associate, UK in the World Programme @chathamhouse.org. Former Labour staffer and civil servant. Substack: open.substack.com/pub/robinjpotter

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Reposted by Robin Potter
Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 11h
"EU capitals are quietly preparing for how the bloc should respond to a major hybrid attack that leaves several citizens dead — an outcome that looks increasingly likely, according to five EU diplomats and officials" www.politico.eu/article/eu-n...
politico.eu
EU quietly braces for nightmare scenario of multiple-casualty hybrid attack
Diplomats are discussing emergency teams, EU funding and crisis communications, while some capitals warn Brussels risks duplicating NATO.
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Also in contrast to Estonia, for example, UK government has made essentially no effort to inform or educate Parliamentarians or wider Westminster on the nature of the threat
politicshome.com
Parliament needs better national security briefings
Foreign and security policy are likely to play larger roles in the UK’s national politics for years to come.
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It’s a real problem From excellent papers by Sara Khan
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Whole episode was weird Met line was no state involvement in June - rapidly countered by BBC and FT - then they include the incident in a video on state sponsored activity And all the while no public political attribution, compared to e.g., Skripal, which I think partly explains lack of impacts
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Have thought for a while the UK needs to better recognise the public interest in political policy development Also linked to the need to limit impact of excessive private donations, think we should look to German model of government funded political foundations (stiftungs)
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
New from me on Substack, on the importance of vocal government support for a civil aid organisation facing threats and intimidation for fulfilling the UK’s international legal commitments
robinjpotter.substack.com
The RNLI delivers the UK’s international legal responsibilities. It should be defended
A piece this week reflecting on the lack of vocal government support for a civil aid organisation facing threats and intimidation for fulfilling the UK’s international legal commitments.
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
New from me on Substack, on the importance of vocal government support for a civil aid organisation facing threats and intimidation for fulfilling the UK’s international legal commitments
robinjpotter.substack.com
The RNLI delivers the UK’s international legal responsibilities. It should be defended
A piece this week reflecting on the lack of vocal government support for a civil aid organisation facing threats and intimidation for fulfilling the UK’s international legal commitments.
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I’m doubtful - yes MCA does shipping enforcement but really more a regulator like Ofcom Who is empowered there to put out such statements? It’s not operationally independent like the police
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
MCA is of a very different nature to a maritime prefect I would say Also not a great deal of confidence in their leadership after bungling issue of coastguard pay earlier this year en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritim...
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
No UK equivalent governance structure of the maritime prefecture to issue such a warning
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Most of the channel is not the high seas Likely UK jurisdiction and offences
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Offending footage from 5:45 onwards - worth a watch Danny Tommo appears to commit an offence UK has inadequate maritime policing capability
youtube.com
LIVE: Tracking Migrants in the English Channel #DannyTommo #PatriotPlatform
YouTube video by Danny Tommo
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics. A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Started watching Sky’s War Game last night where Michael Gove is the PM during the Russian attack and I’m afraid it is just very difficult to watch it without thinking of this, one of the great cartoons ever published
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
36 feels young for middle age these days
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Some extracts from Rogers’ speech in London that apparently prompted HMA Washington to ask her advice on combating the radical right www.state.gov/releases/und...
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Increasing the UK’s strategic autonomy through deepened relationships with other like minded powers need not come at the expense of the US alliance Too often think London has viewed it through zero sum logic, but it should recognise the old US led order is changing perhaps irrevocably
ft.com
Ursula von der Leyen backs Canada’s ‘associate membership’ bid
European Commission president says EU and Canada ‘see the world with the same eyes’
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Phil Tinline @philtinline.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Precisely. Far too much sophisticated lobbyist-brained fatalism going round here atm. "Oh but it's difficult." "What if Washington gets angry." "Defining terms is tricky." "It'll probably be fine." What do you think you're being paid for?
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Feel like the UK is lagging behind on some weird old wavelength compared to Canada and Australia on democratic resilience Big tech funding local journalism, strict donor limits, algorithmic controls on social media, compulsory voting - take your pick!
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
OMG
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Euan Healey @euanhealey.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
If I was the Prime Minister the Home Sec, the Chief Constables of Hampshire, Kent and the Met, and the head of MI5 would all be in pieces on the floor of my office. I would be pinning medals on RNLI volunteers and I would be at the Pakistan U19 game. Where is Andy Burnham?
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
It was TV which really did Kent justice!
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Amy Borrett @amyborrett.ft.com · 08/09/2026
Britain’s state-owned electricity system operator has awarded Palantir a £21mn contract without inviting rival bids, arguing critical processes are too reliant on its tech to run a competitive procurement process Latest for @financialtimes.com: as.ft.com/r/7fe6c0b7-2...
as.ft.com
Britain’s grid operator gave Palantir contract without inviting rival bids
Neso cited a legal exemption that removes the requirement to consider other suppliers if dependencies leave no alternative
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Would slightly modify this to say it is both - was keen to get across the extent to which I think gov are treating as a good faith policy problem There are policy levers on media, policing, rebuilding civic and associational life, but does also require politicians willing to pick a political fight
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Mainstreaming of hate and extremism is a political problem, not a policy problem The extreme right will never be satiated by deliverism on boats and hotel numbers
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Reposted by Robin Potter
H I Sutton @covertshores.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The incredible volunteers of the RNLI
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Interesting to see the shifts at the Tele under Axel Springer ownership
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
My take UK claims to bases in Cyprus, also applies to Falklands: "In an era of renewed contest between states and an unreliable hegemon in the United States, the ability to defend norms, alliances, and claims of sovereignty requires both a reserve of strategic power and the capacity to wield it."
britainsworld.org.uk
Defending the British Overseas Territories
The Memorandum | No. 17.2026
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Yeah not inaccurate! Just felt a bit dismissive I suppose given increasing chronic and systemic risks in that portfolio
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Was disappointing to hear Burnham’s instinctive reach for Defra as an unimportant department at his first PMQs Echoed with Steve Reed’s ‘department for angry farmers’ comment on the record at a lobby lunch Food systems and climate adaptation going to be critically important areas in years ahead
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Loved this one Got it on VHS from the mobile library
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
More accurately - the BBC’s share of radio audiences is declining rather than the medium overall
radiotoday.co.uk
Commercial radio passes 40m as BBC falls to 30.9m – RadioToday
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
What’s interesting about this is Rajan’s apparent lack of insight of why it remains mass market - because Today isn’t linear TV “Rapid and accelerating decline” is not borne out by the facts - 9M tune in to Radio 4, about the same as 2006 Overall linear radio audience is actually growing
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I know at the moment this is a very fringe cause predominantly championed by Brexiteers But the UK should think more seriously and deeply about how it structures co-operation with Canada and Australia
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Though we do also have a lot of former PMs these days
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Tried for ages to see who had two unmarked discoveries waiting on street near my old office every morning Still none the wiser
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Also a pressing need to build attractive alternatives as well as better regulating existing platforms As I think IPPR, Demos, and @philtinline.bsky.social have all recently called for, potentially a role for the BBC in designing digital public infrastructure aligned to UK democratic values
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Do think there is a solid argument for reforming responsibilities for resilience and civil contingencies though CDL meant to be a without portfolio role in theory - but that portfolio is now much bigger (and growing) Some big failings in recent years I think partly down to poor accountability
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Why are policy people frequently also keen transport fans (Asking for a friend)
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Arguably remains existential for the UK yet not a hint that the government perceives it as such, regarding it on equal terms with other domains of land, air, space, cyber
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Still slightly bewildered why this whole piece has been tasked to Ofcom rather than the NCA
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Arguably failure of preventative comms which should have been planned and on the stocks after last summer
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
A classic from my childhood Have we just forgotten how to do this stuff?
youtube.com
Sparklers, Handle With Care Trailer - BBC Two 2004
YouTube video by Cookie's Classics
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Indeed Advantage of a dedicated civil emergency app is it can send a gentler push notification of relevant advice
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Not sure we should have got to the point that this was necessary Where was the public information campaign in the spring? Should have had something ready to roll after summer 2025 Or preparedness work on the ground with communities to help them plan for greater risks in their local area?
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
In Latvia there’s a civil protection app run by the fire service that can send people push notifications with guidance on live risks in their area Not sure there’s many signs yet of UK government gripping what’s required as risk profile facing communities rapidly shifts
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Reposted by Robin Potter
Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
My LinkedIn is full of an endless stream of UK diplomats announcing they’ve left govt service. This due to extreme cuts to foreign aid and diplomacy (much of it spearheaded by Olly Robbins). It’s hard to look at the world today and think “this is a good time to be losing experienced diplomats.”
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Completely agree - but they are limited in numbers and restricted to their stations Question for me now we need to plan for not having army to help is whether we follow lead of nearly every other European state Civil protection units able to help for resource intensive major emergencies?
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
As I wrote for @lbc.co.uk this week, we need to look at models used by our near neighbours in Europe Nearly all have trained and organised civil protection units and specialised wildlife prevention volunteers to supplement full time fire services Especially as we now cannot rely on armed forces
lbc.co.uk
We cannot rely on the armed forces to bail us out of every emergency | LBC
The government should enable community preparedness rather than emphasising individual responsibility, writes resilience analyst Robin Potter
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Robin Potter @robinpotter.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Which makes the cuts and homogenisation of BBC local radio to focus on ‘digital’ all the sadder Despite explosion in podcasts and staying power of radio, must be a space there to help fill local news deserts, counter misinformation, and hold new mayors to account with distinctive local content
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