Robert Campbell
@madman2.bsky.social
Ceramic artist INSTA:@firedclayuk, photographer, security geek, adventure racer, cyclist, vegan, EU Citizen, Bollocks to Brexit
Pinned
Robert Campbell
@madman2.bsky.social
· Oct 28
Verification, Deliberation, Accountability: A new framework for tackling epistemic collapse and renewing democracy
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
I think this new paper by @bellingcat.com Eliot Higgins and Dr Natalie Martin from the University of Nottingham; deserves more audience. If you're interested in Democracy and Political Reform you need to read this.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
The Lower Thames Crossing for Car Owners, and what it will cost, is a useful context in which to think about Labour's taxpayer-funded vandalism of the Queensbury Tunnel.
Protest held against decision to fill in Queensbury Tunnel
About 150 people gathered at Queensbury Tunnel near Bradford to protest a decision to fill it in.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 7:03 AM
The Lower Thames Crossing for Car Owners, and what it will cost, is a useful context in which to think about Labour's taxpayer-funded vandalism of the Queensbury Tunnel.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
The UK was better off in the EU and Europe was better off with the UK in it.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
January 19, 2026 at 10:05 AM
The UK was better off in the EU and Europe was better off with the UK in it.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Blaming Norway for not getting a Nobel prize is like invading Ireland for not being in the Guinness book of records.
January 19, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Blaming Norway for not getting a Nobel prize is like invading Ireland for not being in the Guinness book of records.
Techno Feudalism, extracting rents from every one and every thing.
It's impossible to earn a billion, but there are more billionaires every year. How?
We talk w/ @theguardian.com's @josh-tou.bsky.social about "collected wealth" vs "earned wealth", how we tax them unequally & why #WealthTax protects our earner way of life #TaxTheSuperRich youtu.be/vPZRDt1kcV8?...
We talk w/ @theguardian.com's @josh-tou.bsky.social about "collected wealth" vs "earned wealth", how we tax them unequally & why #WealthTax protects our earner way of life #TaxTheSuperRich youtu.be/vPZRDt1kcV8?...
January 19, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Techno Feudalism, extracting rents from every one and every thing.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Reposted by Robert Campbell
January 19, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by Robert Campbell
This makes no sense…
An MP can wake up one morning, ditch the party you elected them for, & sign up to a completely different manifesto…
No thanks
If they defect to a different party, we should get a vote
Sign the petition & help make that law.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
An MP can wake up one morning, ditch the party you elected them for, & sign up to a completely different manifesto…
No thanks
If they defect to a different party, we should get a vote
Sign the petition & help make that law.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party
When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...
petition.parliament.uk
January 18, 2026 at 10:18 PM
This makes no sense…
An MP can wake up one morning, ditch the party you elected them for, & sign up to a completely different manifesto…
No thanks
If they defect to a different party, we should get a vote
Sign the petition & help make that law.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
An MP can wake up one morning, ditch the party you elected them for, & sign up to a completely different manifesto…
No thanks
If they defect to a different party, we should get a vote
Sign the petition & help make that law.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Because corporations exploit State aid for profit motive, tax breaks, and deregulation, all illegal in the EU.
This is why Brexit happened.
As Peter Thiel stated “I no longer believe freedom and democracy are compatible”
This is why Brexit happened.
As Peter Thiel stated “I no longer believe freedom and democracy are compatible”
January 18, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Because corporations exploit State aid for profit motive, tax breaks, and deregulation, all illegal in the EU.
This is why Brexit happened.
As Peter Thiel stated “I no longer believe freedom and democracy are compatible”
This is why Brexit happened.
As Peter Thiel stated “I no longer believe freedom and democracy are compatible”
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Agree that behavioural science still has a lot of insight for governance. Uber's big innovation wasn't making the taxis arrive any faster, it was just reducing the uncertainty about when it would arrive. A simple tracker for your position on a NHS waiting list would reduce a lot of frustration
New post just out:
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Troubleshooters
How to get people believing in the state again
open.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Agree that behavioural science still has a lot of insight for governance. Uber's big innovation wasn't making the taxis arrive any faster, it was just reducing the uncertainty about when it would arrive. A simple tracker for your position on a NHS waiting list would reduce a lot of frustration
The Orange Loony in the White House bemoans the fact that the USA have more. on defence across Europe and Europe hasn't ever paid it's fair share. What he and all the pundits I hear don't acknowledge is that Europe has financed much USA military spending by holding its debt as Treasury Bonds.
January 18, 2026 at 7:45 PM
The Orange Loony in the White House bemoans the fact that the USA have more. on defence across Europe and Europe hasn't ever paid it's fair share. What he and all the pundits I hear don't acknowledge is that Europe has financed much USA military spending by holding its debt as Treasury Bonds.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
January 18, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Robert Campbell
January 17, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Robert Campbell
I have a CHALLENGE FOR CITY HALLS. Who has the bravery to take this on?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
5 steps to making better cities
Before you can do the right thing, you have to do the right thing badly. And before that, you have to do the wrong thing.
www.fastcompany.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:15 PM
I have a CHALLENGE FOR CITY HALLS. Who has the bravery to take this on?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
1. Read my article on the “5 Steps to Better Cities.”
2. Commit to have your staff include in EVERY report, which step the recommendation represents.
If done honestly, with no BS or spin, it could be transformative.
Thoughts?
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Cartoon by Bill Bramhall | Tribune Content Agency
January 18, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Cartoon by Bill Bramhall | Tribune Content Agency
Reposted by Robert Campbell
I’ve been stalwart backer of transatlantic alliance all my life. I understand why Europeans have so far trod softly/tried to keep Trump onside. But, there comes a time when you have to face reality. The US is no longer our ally. Its defense guarantee is worthless. Time to kick ass back🧵
January 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I’ve been stalwart backer of transatlantic alliance all my life. I understand why Europeans have so far trod softly/tried to keep Trump onside. But, there comes a time when you have to face reality. The US is no longer our ally. Its defense guarantee is worthless. Time to kick ass back🧵
When the weather turns out much better than expected. Lovely day wandering around the Tyne from Haltwhistle.
January 18, 2026 at 2:09 PM
When the weather turns out much better than expected. Lovely day wandering around the Tyne from Haltwhistle.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
All but forgotten, but reincarnated in a different form by @playingout.bsky.social and allies across the country, such that, between 2010 and 2024, over 1,650 street communities organised regular, temporary play streets in 100+ different local authority areas across the UK.
January 18, 2026 at 9:36 AM
All but forgotten, but reincarnated in a different form by @playingout.bsky.social and allies across the country, such that, between 2010 and 2024, over 1,650 street communities organised regular, temporary play streets in 100+ different local authority areas across the UK.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
For general amusement.
January 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM
For general amusement.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Just what will it take for all rational people to call the “President has no clothes!/brain!”
“Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump said the charge will then be increased to 25% on June 1 and remain in place “until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland” by America”
BREAKING: Trump Slaps Tariffs On UK And 7 Other European Countries Until US Controls Greenland.
So much for that “special relationship”
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
So much for that “special relationship”
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
January 17, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Just what will it take for all rational people to call the “President has no clothes!/brain!”
Reposted by Robert Campbell
Cancel your Spotify subscription.
In April 2024, Spotify implemented a new scheme: songs with less than 1k streams per year would no longer receive royalties.
The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.
Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.
The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.
Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.
January 16, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Cancel your Spotify subscription.
Reposted by Robert Campbell
