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robhastings.bsky.social
Rob Hastings
@robhastings.bsky.social
1.8K followers 580 following 180 posts
📰 Special Projects Editor at @TheiPaper.com, based in London
✍️ I write long reads, investigations and interviews
🏆 Legal Reporting Award winner
⚽️ Spurs fan
💻 https://robhastings.co.uk
💻 https://inews.co.uk/author/rob-hastings
Posts Replies Media Videos
robhastings.bsky.social
Well done to Michael Palin and #Newsnight for covering the importance of hospices and their funding crisis

I visited Marie Curie's site in Bradford earlier this year for @theipaper.com - the care of the staff and volunteers there was so moving:
inews.co.uk/news/health/...
November 13, 2025 at 11:05 PM
robhastings.bsky.social
👮 We R Blighty has been convicted - for a second time - of "shameless" illegal street fundraising

Ben Mills and Danielle Vidler pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court

The group was caught while it was awaiting its first trial this year
inews.co.uk/news/crime/w...
We R Blighty convicted of illegally collecting money - for second time
Armed Forces veteran condemns the 'shameless way' that the Kent-based organisation appeals for donations on high streets without permission
inews.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
robhastings.bsky.social
Jana Bakunina is Russian but has lived in the UK since 1999. She couldn't understand why so many friends and family support Putin - so she went back to find out

What she learnt about people's attitudes was deeply worrying

My interview with her for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/news/world/r...
I'm a Russian living in London - this is what people back home think of Putin
Jana Bakunina reveals what pro-Putin friends and family told her when she visited her home city of Yekaterinburg - and how opponents are burying their heads in the sand to survive
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
“There is no way back"

😾 My interview with Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina for @theipaper.com on:
- Life after escaping Russia, supporting Ukraine
- Tough conditions for Putin's political prisoners
- Her worries for poet Artyom Kamardin, jailed for seven years
inews.co.uk/news/world/p...
I'm a Pussy Riot activist. This is what life is like in a Russian prison
Maria Alyokhina reveals the conditions she endured in one of the remote penal colonies where opponents of Vladimir Putin face potential torture
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
🚨 The Charities Aid Foundation strengthened security at its HQ to protect employees following alleged “threatening behaviour” by Ben Mills, the founder of We R Blighty, the controversial CIC raising money for homeless military veterans

My exclusive for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/news/busines...
'Threatening' behaviour of We R Blighty founder forces charity to boost security
The controversial group, whose directors have been convicted of illegal fundraising, faces more criticism in run-up to Remembrance Day
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
danneidle.bsky.social
Shocking article in the Sheffield Tribune. A solicitor, Andrew Milne, buying up freeholds of houses and then making (false) threats to the leaseholders to bully them into buying the freehold at a huge premium.
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
sanyaburgess.bsky.social
Many months in the reporting - my investigation into Amazon warehouses is finally live today. A huge thank you to the workers and others who spoke to me, on and off the record. inews.co.uk/news/human-c...
Broken bones, heart attacks and chemical burns - the human cost of Amazon orders
2,500 serious injury incidents have been recorded in UK Amazon warehouses in the last ten years - roughly one injury every day and a half
inews.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
eleanormia.bsky.social
⛑ A cracking and very discomforting read from my colleague Jane Merrick on how unprepared we are for war - well worth your time

🤞 One lead author of the Strategic Defence Review said the UK is “running on luck” when it comes to war readiness and we are "relying on our enemies to leave us alone"
UK has 'lost momentum' for war readiness - and 'relies on enemies to leave us alone'
Lead author of the landmark Strategic Defence Review says the UK is currently 'running on luck' and post-Cold War era 'fumes' to protect itself from attack
inews.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
theipaper.com
Today we're launching Politics Unwrapped, a new weekday newsletter from The i Paper that breaks down the big stories and how they actually affect you

Sign up for free here: trib.al/CLd4iLD
October 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
It was great to interview Chen Yongling - the Chinese diplomat who sensationally defected

He spoke to me for @theipaper.com about China's threat to the UK, his experiences at Tiananmen Square in 1989, and his father's murder in the Cultural Revolution:
inews.co.uk/news/world/d...
I defected from China and revealed its spying tactics - now I fear assassination
Chen Yonglin caused a diplomatic storm when the diplomat spoke out against his country and claimed asylum – 20 years on, he claims China is 'the enemy of human beings'
inews.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 8:44 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
Growing up in a polygamous cult, Pamela Jones had 57 siblings. Her husband had five other wives. As well as nine children, she had eight miscarriages.

Speaking to me for @theipaper.com, she reveals what life was like before her escape and her fears for others still there
inews.co.uk/news/escaped...
I escaped a deadly polygamous cult with my nine kids – others are still trapped
Pamela Jones reveals her life in a fundamentalist Mormon sect in Mexico, where her father had 57 children and her ex-husband had five other wives
inews.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 7:07 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
It was great interviewing Lyse Doucet for @theipaper.com

We discussed:
🇵🇸🇮🇱 Covering “unbearably painful” news from Gaza
🤬 Constant online criticism of BBC reporting
📖 The fab book she's written about a hotel in Kabul
🐡 Her goldfish Tango and Mango
inews.co.uk/news/world/l...
'The danger comes when you least expect it': How BBC's Lyse Doucet covers war
The veteran reporter reflects on the 'unbearably painful' war in Gaza, constant online criticism, and why she wanted to tell the story of an Afghan hotel
inews.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 6:53 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
Two months ago, a close friend received awful news: his younger sister had been killed while out running. A car crashed into her. The driver was high on drugs.

🧵1/10
September 2, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
blairmcdougall.com
The UK is becoming a dumping ground for slave labour goods in between tougher protections in place in the US and EU markets. This story should accelerate action to beef up our anti-slavery laws. inews.co.uk/news/uk-800m...
UK's £800m 'slave labour' China imports revealed - from bras to lawnmowers
Thousands of tonnes of clothes, toys, furniture and tech are being flown in from Xinjiang - which Uyghur campaigners say is a 'national disgrace'
inews.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
robhastings.bsky.social
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: UK's £800m+ "slave labour" imports from Xinjiang revealed

Vast numbers of products flown into Britain from Uyghur region of China - revealed for first time by my @theipaper.com investigation

Stop Uyghur Genocide calls it a "national disgrace" 🧵1
inews.co.uk/news/uk-800m...
UK's £800m 'slave labour' China imports revealed - from bras to lawnmowers
Thousands of tonnes of clothes, toys, furniture and tech are being flown in from Xinjiang - which Uyghur campaigners say is a 'national disgrace'
inews.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
robhastings.bsky.social
It's been disturbing to see how this anonymous blogger seeks to distract from and downplay serious and widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which have been evidenced numerous times, and the risks of UK imports encouraging them. Worth having a read of the responses following this post...
August 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
uhrp.org
Significant new investigation from @robhastings.bsky.social for @theipaper.com shows significant 📈 in imports from Uyghur Region to the 🇬🇧 UK.

The report builds on UHRP research by @peterirwin.bsky.social and @henrykszad.bsky.social showing a surge in cargo flights into the EU and UK.
robhastings.bsky.social Rob Hastings @robhastings.bsky.social · Aug 25
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: UK's £800m+ "slave labour" imports from Xinjiang revealed

Vast numbers of products flown into Britain from Uyghur region of China - revealed for first time by my @theipaper.com investigation

Stop Uyghur Genocide calls it a "national disgrace" 🧵1
inews.co.uk/news/uk-800m...
UK's £800m 'slave labour' China imports revealed - from bras to lawnmowers
Thousands of tonnes of clothes, toys, furniture and tech are being flown in from Xinjiang - which Uyghur campaigners say is a 'national disgrace'
inews.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
robhastings.bsky.social
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: UK's £800m+ "slave labour" imports from Xinjiang revealed

Vast numbers of products flown into Britain from Uyghur region of China - revealed for first time by my @theipaper.com investigation

Stop Uyghur Genocide calls it a "national disgrace" 🧵1
inews.co.uk/news/uk-800m...
UK's £800m 'slave labour' China imports revealed - from bras to lawnmowers
Thousands of tonnes of clothes, toys, furniture and tech are being flown in from Xinjiang - which Uyghur campaigners say is a 'national disgrace'
inews.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
robhastings.bsky.social
One way Trump could win concessions from Putin at their summit on Friday would be if he used his famed unpredictability - by surprising Russia with more arms to Ukraine and new sanctions

That's the advice of former UK ambassador to Ukraine
@leighturnerwriter.bsky.social
inews.co.uk/news/world/u...
I was UK ambassador to Ukraine – here's how Trump could outsmart Putin
Former diplomat Leigh Turner, who served in Kyiv and Moscow, believes Trump should use his unpredictability as a weapon ahead of Friday's summit
inews.co.uk
August 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
theipaper.com
A year ago Rachel Reeves scrapped plans to cap the amount a person should pay toward their care at £86,000 forcing thousands to sell their homes to pay for critical support

🔎 Big Read by ‪@robhastings.bsky.social‬ https://trib.al/DiTq9ub
July 30, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
helenrumbelow.bsky.social
The most extraordinary story of love and Libor

www.thetimes.com/article/bc48...
Love, Libor and loss: the Kafkaesque ordeal of Tom Hayes
A decade on from his conviction, the trader has been cleared. The impact on his family has been devastating
www.thetimes.com
July 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
Bigger fines are needed to tackle rogue fundraising groups that take cash donations illegally on UK high streets, says Met Police

Follows convictions of two CICs - We R Blighty and Inside Success Union - for unlicensed collections

My report for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/news/crime/r...
We R Blighty and other rogue fundraisers could face tougher laws
The Metropolitan Police is among several organisations calling for bigger fines to impose on companies collecting cash donations illegally
inews.co.uk
July 23, 2025 at 7:46 AM
robhastings.bsky.social
Back in November, AstraZeneca - the UK's most valuable firm - admitted its China President had been arrested

Eight months on, Leon Wang's condition and whereabouts remain unknown

My long read for @theipaper.com on the mystery and warnings for UK businesses:
inews.co.uk/news/busines...
How a UK big pharma exec was arrested in China - and hasn't been heard from since
The China chief of AstraZeneca - Britain's biggest company - was arrested months ago, but his condition and whereabouts remain a mystery
inews.co.uk
July 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
leocendro.bsky.social
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's husband was just freed after five years in jail, but Belarus’s leader-in-exile is still fighting inews.co.uk/news/world/p...
Putin’s puppet says he's changing. Belarus’s leader-in-exile says we're being fooled
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warns the West not to be taken in by the Belarussian dictator after he freed her husband in a prisoner swap last month
inews.co.uk
July 20, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Reposted by Rob Hastings
leylaboulton.bsky.social
A horrific dystopian reality: ‘If you secure any food and avoid being shot by the Israelis, you may not escape the gangs waiting outside,” said Abdallah, who has brought back supplies from only one of his seven trips. 🙏 @financialtimes.com colleagues for this reporting
on.ft.com/4lzxFOQ
Inside Gaza’s ‘death traps’
A US-backed scheme forces hungry Palestinians to trek kilometres for food aid. Many never make it back
on.ft.com
July 14, 2025 at 6:31 AM