Robin Potter
@robinpotter.bsky.social
Academy Associate, UK in the World Programme @chathamhouse.org researching societal resilience to state threats. Former Labour staffer and civil servant.
Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/robinjpotter
Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/robinjpotter
Pinned
Robin Potter
@robinpotter.bsky.social
· Dec 2
The Hunt for the UK's Submarines
What is the threat to Britain’s home waters, and is it equipped to deal with it?
open.substack.com
This week on the blog, a deep dive (pardon the pun) on the Russian undersea threat to the UK’s home waters, and whether it is equipped to deal with it
Reposted by Robin Potter
The conclusion is spot on
December 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The conclusion is spot on
Reposted by Robin Potter
When a group of defense insiders gathered in Whitehall, the home of the British government, last month to discuss how prepared the United Kingdom and its allies were for a war they believe could come in the next few years, their verdict was pretty grim: They are not. https://cnn.it/49bBhS2
The shadow Russia casts over Europe has forced it to face the truth: the risk of war is once again real | CNN
When a group of defense insiders gathered in Whitehall, the home of the British government, last month to discuss how prepared the United Kingdom and its allies were for a war they believe could come ...
www.cnn.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:00 AM
When a group of defense insiders gathered in Whitehall, the home of the British government, last month to discuss how prepared the United Kingdom and its allies were for a war they believe could come in the next few years, their verdict was pretty grim: They are not. https://cnn.it/49bBhS2
Reposted by Robin Potter
Canceling the northern leg of HS2 was an act of insane self-harm
Industry insiders are concerned that fewer, shorter non-tilting trains are on order for HS2 — and that journey times will return to those of the 1990s
Why HS2 may lead to smaller, slower trains on west coast main line
Industry insiders are concerned that fewer, shorter non-tilting trains are on order for HS2 — and that journey times will return to those of the 1990s
www.thetimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Canceling the northern leg of HS2 was an act of insane self-harm
Reposted by Robin Potter
“Top priority”.
December 17, 2025 at 9:07 AM
“Top priority”.
More great journalism from London Centric
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
What if Thames Water aren’t always the baddies when it comes to sewage in London rivers? It’s hard to comprehend, so in April I challenged @rachel-rees.bsky.social to find a single example of a misconnection and chase it to the Thames. It became an epic quest: www.londoncentric.media/p/misconnect...
London's other sewage scandal
London Centric chases illegal sewage from a single polluting pipe on its toxic journey across the capital.
www.londoncentric.media
December 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
More great journalism from London Centric
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
Positive news!
Though that's double the budget for grassroots sport in England... which could really do with an uplift
Though that's double the budget for grassroots sport in England... which could really do with an uplift
#BBCNews - Hundreds of youth centres planned to reach 'isolated' generation in England
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hundreds of youth centres planned to reach 'isolated' generation
The government sets aside £500m it says is needed to revive services aimed at disconnected teens and young adults.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Positive news!
Though that's double the budget for grassroots sport in England... which could really do with an uplift
Though that's double the budget for grassroots sport in England... which could really do with an uplift
Reposted by Robin Potter
Oslo and Copenhagen have separately, and on the same day, confirmed significant additions to their naval forces, both aimed at strengthening surveillance and protection of undersea infrastructure and strategic maritime areas in the North European waters.
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/norw...
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/norw...
Norway to buy two extra submarines, Denmark buys new surveillance ship in Nordic maritime push - Breaking Defense
Oslo and Copenhagen have separately, and on the same day, confirmed significant additions to their naval forces, both aimed at strengthening surveillance and protection of undersea infrastructure and ...
breakingdefense.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Oslo and Copenhagen have separately, and on the same day, confirmed significant additions to their naval forces, both aimed at strengthening surveillance and protection of undersea infrastructure and strategic maritime areas in the North European waters.
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/norw...
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/norw...
Reposted by Robin Potter
‘Autistic men in suits talking loudly and self-importantly at each other in jargon that nobody understands’
A decent summation of the defence pundit class, who delight in arcane language. As such, I've written a guide to the most annoying phrases out there. Let me know what I missed!
A decent summation of the defence pundit class, who delight in arcane language. As such, I've written a guide to the most annoying phrases out there. Let me know what I missed!
A Cynic's Guide to Defence Jargon
WMD: Words of Mass Confusion
crackingdefence.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
‘Autistic men in suits talking loudly and self-importantly at each other in jargon that nobody understands’
A decent summation of the defence pundit class, who delight in arcane language. As such, I've written a guide to the most annoying phrases out there. Let me know what I missed!
A decent summation of the defence pundit class, who delight in arcane language. As such, I've written a guide to the most annoying phrases out there. Let me know what I missed!
Reposted by Robin Potter
Way outside my area of expertise but this doesn’t paint an encouraging picture of the country’s underseas defence capability. open.substack.com/pub/robinjpo...
The Hunt for the UK's Submarines
What is the threat to Britain’s home waters, and is it equipped to deal with it?
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Way outside my area of expertise but this doesn’t paint an encouraging picture of the country’s underseas defence capability. open.substack.com/pub/robinjpo...
Reposted by Robin Potter
This may in part explain why France is particularly targeted by cyberattacks and disinformation: "In few years, both France and the UK — the only European nuclear weapon states — may be simultaneously under control of populist far right parties that are at best skeptical of European solidarity."
The new US #NationalSecurityStrategy is so alarming that I spent hours today on this piece, rather than my real work.
We the Europeans, and especially the #NB8 countries in #NATO 's Eastern Flank, MUST prepare to defend our #democracy and deter #Russia by ourselves.
jmkorhonen.net/2025/12/05/w...
We the Europeans, and especially the #NB8 countries in #NATO 's Eastern Flank, MUST prepare to defend our #democracy and deter #Russia by ourselves.
jmkorhonen.net/2025/12/05/w...
When the umbrella starts to leak: Securing NATO’s Eastern Flank after the new U.S. security strategy
The new U.S. National Security Strategy shifts the United States to an unreliable ally at best – an active threat at worst. Europe and in particular NB8 countries on NATO’s Eastern Flan…
jmkorhonen.net
December 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
This may in part explain why France is particularly targeted by cyberattacks and disinformation: "In few years, both France and the UK — the only European nuclear weapon states — may be simultaneously under control of populist far right parties that are at best skeptical of European solidarity."
Reposted by Robin Potter
🚨SPIES, DAY TWO: Counter-Terror Police were reported to a suspicious man spying on Lulworth Firing Range - flying drones and fixing metal devices in trees.
The call was made during the same time that a suspected Russian spy was near to the military base.
inews.co.uk/news/suspect...
The call was made during the same time that a suspected Russian spy was near to the military base.
inews.co.uk/news/suspect...
Suspected spy staying in Dorset shepherd's hut reported to counter-terror police
Man witnessed flying drone near Dorset military base where Ukraine's troops are trained
inews.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
🚨SPIES, DAY TWO: Counter-Terror Police were reported to a suspicious man spying on Lulworth Firing Range - flying drones and fixing metal devices in trees.
The call was made during the same time that a suspected Russian spy was near to the military base.
inews.co.uk/news/suspect...
The call was made during the same time that a suspected Russian spy was near to the military base.
inews.co.uk/news/suspect...
Reposted by Robin Potter
Quite breathtaking story - military grade drones at Dublin airport which flew on the path Zelensky's plane took. The drones reached the flight path of his plane exactly the time it should have been there, but just missed it because Zelensky arrived ahead of schedule:
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
www.thejournal.ie
December 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Quite breathtaking story - military grade drones at Dublin airport which flew on the path Zelensky's plane took. The drones reached the flight path of his plane exactly the time it should have been there, but just missed it because Zelensky arrived ahead of schedule:
Reposted by Robin Potter
It does not get mentioned enough, but Norway is one of the UK's most critical allies (and vice versa), especially for matters of territorial defence.
Its good to see the relationship appears as strong as it is right now.
Its good to see the relationship appears as strong as it is right now.
UK and Norway form naval alliance to hunt Russian submarines
The partnership is designed to protect undersea cables, which Western officials say are increasingly under threat from Moscow.
www.bbc.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:08 PM
It does not get mentioned enough, but Norway is one of the UK's most critical allies (and vice versa), especially for matters of territorial defence.
Its good to see the relationship appears as strong as it is right now.
Its good to see the relationship appears as strong as it is right now.
Thanks for the nod in London Playbook @politico.eu
December 3, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Thanks for the nod in London Playbook @politico.eu
This week on the blog, a deep dive (pardon the pun) on the Russian undersea threat to the UK’s home waters, and whether it is equipped to deal with it
The Hunt for the UK's Submarines
What is the threat to Britain’s home waters, and is it equipped to deal with it?
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
This week on the blog, a deep dive (pardon the pun) on the Russian undersea threat to the UK’s home waters, and whether it is equipped to deal with it
Have started a Substack.
Will mainly be concerned with security and foreign affairs with digressions into UK politics. To kick off, an account of Labour’s challenges on asylum, immigration, and its own leadership.
First time having a go at writing outside my niche, so all feedback very welcome!
Will mainly be concerned with security and foreign affairs with digressions into UK politics. To kick off, an account of Labour’s challenges on asylum, immigration, and its own leadership.
First time having a go at writing outside my niche, so all feedback very welcome!
Labour may not be interested in culture war, but culture war is interested in Labour
Welcome!
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Have started a Substack.
Will mainly be concerned with security and foreign affairs with digressions into UK politics. To kick off, an account of Labour’s challenges on asylum, immigration, and its own leadership.
First time having a go at writing outside my niche, so all feedback very welcome!
Will mainly be concerned with security and foreign affairs with digressions into UK politics. To kick off, an account of Labour’s challenges on asylum, immigration, and its own leadership.
First time having a go at writing outside my niche, so all feedback very welcome!
As myself and 100s of other officials were working overtime on the response in Feb 2020, Johnson was pottering around Sevenoaks doing his shopping while parts of Italy locked down
Bereaved families suggest misconduct in public office - is that hyperbole or a real potential risk?
Bereaved families suggest misconduct in public office - is that hyperbole or a real potential risk?
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:13 AM
As myself and 100s of other officials were working overtime on the response in Feb 2020, Johnson was pottering around Sevenoaks doing his shopping while parts of Italy locked down
Bereaved families suggest misconduct in public office - is that hyperbole or a real potential risk?
Bereaved families suggest misconduct in public office - is that hyperbole or a real potential risk?
If individual politicians want to keep using it that’s one thing
However is it appropriate for smorgasbord of public authorities - every arm of national and local govt + agencies (including 100s of police accounts!) - to remain given the proliferation of illegal hate speech and racism?
However is it appropriate for smorgasbord of public authorities - every arm of national and local govt + agencies (including 100s of police accounts!) - to remain given the proliferation of illegal hate speech and racism?
Growing backbench pressure about how government uses X
I hope this pressure can link up with pressure to recognise strength of prima facie evidence thst X is in breach of legal duties (in systemic failure of its complaints system to be compliant with UK law)
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
I hope this pressure can link up with pressure to recognise strength of prima facie evidence thst X is in breach of legal duties (in systemic failure of its complaints system to be compliant with UK law)
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Labour MPs Call For A More Serious Review Of The Government's Use Of X
Labour MPs are calling for ministers to take control of decisions over the government’s continued use of X, as concerns grow about the platform’s s...
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
If individual politicians want to keep using it that’s one thing
However is it appropriate for smorgasbord of public authorities - every arm of national and local govt + agencies (including 100s of police accounts!) - to remain given the proliferation of illegal hate speech and racism?
However is it appropriate for smorgasbord of public authorities - every arm of national and local govt + agencies (including 100s of police accounts!) - to remain given the proliferation of illegal hate speech and racism?
Germany on course to hit 3% of GDP on defence by 2029 - placing orders now
Meanwhile in the UK we still have no clarity on spending plans to 2.6% in 2028, orders to industry on hold, plus £17bn hole remains from 2023 equipment plan
And questions on plans to fulfil obligations under NATO article 3…
Meanwhile in the UK we still have no clarity on spending plans to 2.6% in 2028, orders to industry on hold, plus £17bn hole remains from 2023 equipment plan
And questions on plans to fulfil obligations under NATO article 3…
November 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Germany on course to hit 3% of GDP on defence by 2029 - placing orders now
Meanwhile in the UK we still have no clarity on spending plans to 2.6% in 2028, orders to industry on hold, plus £17bn hole remains from 2023 equipment plan
And questions on plans to fulfil obligations under NATO article 3…
Meanwhile in the UK we still have no clarity on spending plans to 2.6% in 2028, orders to industry on hold, plus £17bn hole remains from 2023 equipment plan
And questions on plans to fulfil obligations under NATO article 3…
Reposted by Robin Potter
EU foreign ministers will be briefed tomorrow about a spate of sabotage attempts and airspace incursions that Russia’s neighbors say marks a “very dangerous phase of escalation” by the Kremlin, and one that endangers civilians.
EU ‘minutes from big casualties’ in Russian hybrid war, Lithuanian minister warns
An act of railway sabotage in Poland is just the latest sign the bloc needs to respond to Moscow’s tactics, Lithuania’s foreign minister told POLITICO.
www.politico.eu
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
EU foreign ministers will be briefed tomorrow about a spate of sabotage attempts and airspace incursions that Russia’s neighbors say marks a “very dangerous phase of escalation” by the Kremlin, and one that endangers civilians.
One of Labour’s most egregious shortcomings for government has been the absence of a plan for adult social care
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
November 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
One of Labour’s most egregious shortcomings for government has been the absence of a plan for adult social care
Nuts policy
A levy on foreign students is one of the closest things you're going to see to tariffs on services - except the UK will be putting it on its own exports...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Levy on international students’ tuition fees not in best interest of UK, says leader of top university
Duncan Ivison, president of Manchester University, says government’s 6% surcharge plan will ‘hurt the sector’
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Nuts policy
Reposted by Robin Potter
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Robin Potter
November 10, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Reposted by Robin Potter
