Martin Robbins
@mjrobbins.com
Substack: mjrobbins.com
Podcast: abundancepod.com
Podcast: abundancepod.com
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Martin Robbins
@mjrobbins.com
· 15d
Britain's Weirdest Detour
When badgers destroyed a road in rural Lincolnshire, the response was wilder than you might imagine.
open.substack.com
My latest: On the mad sequence of events that unfolded when badgers demolished a road.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
I wish we had France’s problem of too much abundant clean energy.
France has ended up in a strange position after using some €250bn of tax-payer money to build a fleet of nuclear power stations. Wind and solar power is merrily entering the French power market at prices nuclear production can't match, resulting in huge surpluses of power.
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Électricité : un rapport confidentiel d’EDF anticipe une explosion des coûts et des risques
« Le Point » s’est procuré le rapport interne d’EDF sur les conséquences de la modulation de son parc nucléaire pour faire place aux renouvelables. Un document explosif, alors que le gouvernement s’ap...
www.lepoint.fr
February 8, 2026 at 11:47 AM
I wish we had France’s problem of too much abundant clean energy.
It’s mad, it’s not even close, just looking at the stats now as recently as 2015 the Tories were at 31% among men aged 18-24. Latest YouGov is at 22% for Tories and Reform *combined*. That’s a massive drop. In any other context you’d be talking about the generational decline of the right.
February 7, 2026 at 12:45 PM
It’s mad, it’s not even close, just looking at the stats now as recently as 2015 the Tories were at 31% among men aged 18-24. Latest YouGov is at 22% for Tories and Reform *combined*. That’s a massive drop. In any other context you’d be talking about the generational decline of the right.
Yeah, I mean pull up a chair son and let me talk to you about the demographics of the 2010 election.
February 7, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Yeah, I mean pull up a chair son and let me talk to you about the demographics of the 2010 election.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
This is a great paper based on that rarest of things: an actual (fleeting) English planning success story. Zero excuse for any council claiming a housing crisis to not have a knock-off version on the books by September.
My only criticism is the cowardly dodge of ‘Croydon Facelift’ for its title.
My only criticism is the cowardly dodge of ‘Croydon Facelift’ for its title.
🆕What happens when planning rules are clearer and more predictable?
Our latest briefing examines Croydon’s Suburban Design Guide and its impact on small-site housing delivery. 👇
buff.ly/vLNo0r9
Our latest briefing examines Croydon’s Suburban Design Guide and its impact on small-site housing delivery. 👇
buff.ly/vLNo0r9
February 4, 2026 at 7:31 PM
This is a great paper based on that rarest of things: an actual (fleeting) English planning success story. Zero excuse for any council claiming a housing crisis to not have a knock-off version on the books by September.
My only criticism is the cowardly dodge of ‘Croydon Facelift’ for its title.
My only criticism is the cowardly dodge of ‘Croydon Facelift’ for its title.
Snooker won't be the same without him. May he finally find out where the cue ball's going.
John Virgo dies aged 79
John Virgo, who co-presented TV show Big Break and was a popular BBC commentator for decades, has died.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Snooker won't be the same without him. May he finally find out where the cue ball's going.
Bizarre because unlike some of your other examples he didn't even know me, hadn't met me or taught me before, and on paper I was a solid-if-not-exceptional student who'd won international maths challenges, it was like he had a visceral need to take me down a peg or three.
February 1, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Bizarre because unlike some of your other examples he didn't even know me, hadn't met me or taught me before, and on paper I was a solid-if-not-exceptional student who'd won international maths challenges, it was like he had a visceral need to take me down a peg or three.
I had this completely out of the blue when I was interviewing with the admissions guy at Alton College before starting my A-Levels, he looked at my GCSEs (As, Bs, couple of Cs) and went something along the lines of "I doubt you'll do very well here." Remember being utterly flummoxed by his attitude.
February 1, 2026 at 10:55 AM
I had this completely out of the blue when I was interviewing with the admissions guy at Alton College before starting my A-Levels, he looked at my GCSEs (As, Bs, couple of Cs) and went something along the lines of "I doubt you'll do very well here." Remember being utterly flummoxed by his attitude.
It’s what Diana would have wanted
Daily Express: NOW YOU MUST GIVE BRITAIN A PROPER BREXIT #TomorrowsPapersToday
January 30, 2026 at 10:48 PM
It’s what Diana would have wanted
*weary wave of solidarity*
January 29, 2026 at 5:33 PM
*weary wave of solidarity*
Yeah, it’s a good point. I sometimes wonder if there’s a role-playing game aspect to it as well, like he’s in such a weird bubble it’s like playing a fantasy game until suddenly it collides with reality.
January 29, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Yeah, it’s a good point. I sometimes wonder if there’s a role-playing game aspect to it as well, like he’s in such a weird bubble it’s like playing a fantasy game until suddenly it collides with reality.
Quite a telling quote from previous coverage. Men being disengaged from the real world is a big multiplier for social media brain.
January 29, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Quite a telling quote from previous coverage. Men being disengaged from the real world is a big multiplier for social media brain.
I supposed the logic is if you lose the bet you were screwed anyway so may as well try to own it if it happens. Not the kind of logic I’d use but what would I know 🤷♂️.
January 29, 2026 at 8:23 AM
I supposed the logic is if you lose the bet you were screwed anyway so may as well try to own it if it happens. Not the kind of logic I’d use but what would I know 🤷♂️.
Complete aside to this amazing thread but I’m hiring at the moment and seeing some cover letters from ChatGPT and the biggest tell now is… the length? All the other stuff of course, but as soon as you see a 500 word cover note ten shillings says it’s AI slop.
Are we going to wonder if she actually has those skills? Because, with my employer hat on, receiving a CV full of relevant skills that a candidate doesn't have is, ummm... Less than great. Or, put another way, lying. Hallucinating? Nope, just lying. Don't do this!
Oh well, back to the prompt mines.
Oh well, back to the prompt mines.
January 29, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Complete aside to this amazing thread but I’m hiring at the moment and seeing some cover letters from ChatGPT and the biggest tell now is… the length? All the other stuff of course, but as soon as you see a 500 word cover note ten shillings says it’s AI slop.
I mean even the present doesn’t.
January 28, 2026 at 8:13 AM
I mean even the present doesn’t.
Well I’d explain but I’m worried you’d fall asleep before the end of the tweet.
January 27, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Well I’d explain but I’m worried you’d fall asleep before the end of the tweet.
Both, but also I misread the post at the end of a long day of zoom calls 😂
January 27, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Both, but also I misread the post at the end of a long day of zoom calls 😂
I suspect the fear for someone like Goodwin is that there *are* communities, he's just not a part of them.
January 27, 2026 at 5:22 PM
I suspect the fear for someone like Goodwin is that there *are* communities, he's just not a part of them.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
ICYMI: Why a council were told they'd have to wait an entire year to start fixing a destroyed road, prompting a bizarre 36-mile diversion. (Short film.)
Britain's Weirdest Detour
When badgers destroyed a road in rural Lincolnshire, the response was wilder than you might imagine.
martinrobbins.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:53 AM
ICYMI: Why a council were told they'd have to wait an entire year to start fixing a destroyed road, prompting a bizarre 36-mile diversion. (Short film.)
Reposted by Martin Robbins
I recently contacted the council to ask about setting up a diversion on our road for two days, so a cherry picker can maintain trees on our land. I have to apply for two different permits, pay at least a four figure sum and wait at least 90 days before they'll even respond.
ICYMI: Why a council were told they'd have to wait an entire year to start fixing a destroyed road, prompting a bizarre 36-mile diversion. (Short film.)
Britain's Weirdest Detour
When badgers destroyed a road in rural Lincolnshire, the response was wilder than you might imagine.
martinrobbins.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:16 AM
I recently contacted the council to ask about setting up a diversion on our road for two days, so a cherry picker can maintain trees on our land. I have to apply for two different permits, pay at least a four figure sum and wait at least 90 days before they'll even respond.
ICYMI: Why a council were told they'd have to wait an entire year to start fixing a destroyed road, prompting a bizarre 36-mile diversion. (Short film.)
Britain's Weirdest Detour
When badgers destroyed a road in rural Lincolnshire, the response was wilder than you might imagine.
martinrobbins.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:53 AM
ICYMI: Why a council were told they'd have to wait an entire year to start fixing a destroyed road, prompting a bizarre 36-mile diversion. (Short film.)
Reposted by Martin Robbins
I’m the Editor’s Pick today, very personal piece (paywalled) (I did not write the headline) www.thetimes.com/life-style/h...
January 26, 2026 at 8:59 AM
I’m the Editor’s Pick today, very personal piece (paywalled) (I did not write the headline) www.thetimes.com/life-style/h...
Reposted by Martin Robbins
My latest: On the mad sequence of events that unfolded when badgers demolished a road.
Britain's Weirdest Detour
When badgers destroyed a road in rural Lincolnshire, the response was wilder than you might imagine.
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:13 AM
My latest: On the mad sequence of events that unfolded when badgers demolished a road.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Arguably more significant than defections, internal party politics and the Beckhams…
In 2024 there were around 3,600 suspected cases of measles.
We need to challenge the nonsense spread by anti vaxxers and ensure children are protected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
news.sky.com/story/uk-los...
In 2024 there were around 3,600 suspected cases of measles.
We need to challenge the nonsense spread by anti vaxxers and ensure children are protected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
news.sky.com/story/uk-los...
UK loses measles elimination status, warns WHO
Vaccination rates in 2024-25 among five-year-olds who had received both MMR jabs hit the lowest level in 15 years.
news.sky.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Arguably more significant than defections, internal party politics and the Beckhams…
In 2024 there were around 3,600 suspected cases of measles.
We need to challenge the nonsense spread by anti vaxxers and ensure children are protected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
news.sky.com/story/uk-los...
In 2024 there were around 3,600 suspected cases of measles.
We need to challenge the nonsense spread by anti vaxxers and ensure children are protected.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
news.sky.com/story/uk-los...
My latest: How a council was banned from fixing a road, and responded by putting one of the maddest diversions ever conceived in place.
Britain's Weirdest Detour
YouTube video by The Value of Nothing
youtube.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:30 PM
My latest: How a council was banned from fixing a road, and responded by putting one of the maddest diversions ever conceived in place.
That and the 'it isn't X... it's Y'
January 26, 2026 at 6:28 PM
That and the 'it isn't X... it's Y'