Robert Whittaker
@rjw62.bsky.social
Mathematician, mapper, photographer, geek.
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
A teenager redrew the Alabama voting map – and it’s now state law - www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... "Daniel DiDonato, 18, drafted new state senate districts at home on free software – and a judge picked his map ahead of professionals’ efforts to remedy voting rights violations"
A teenager redrew the Alabama voting map – and it’s now state law
Daniel DiDonato, 18, drafted new state senate districts at home on free software – and a judge picked his map ahead of professionals’ efforts to remedy voting rights violations
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A teenager redrew the Alabama voting map – and it’s now state law - www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025... "Daniel DiDonato, 18, drafted new state senate districts at home on free software – and a judge picked his map ahead of professionals’ efforts to remedy voting rights violations"
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Another UK address dataset unlocked:
Bristol City Council has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Thanks Bristol City Council!
I've geocoded the data for mapping, analysis, whatevs
#FOI #localgov #UKhousing #proptech #opendata #openaddresses
Bristol City Council has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Thanks Bristol City Council!
I've geocoded the data for mapping, analysis, whatevs
#FOI #localgov #UKhousing #proptech #opendata #openaddresses
November 17, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Another UK address dataset unlocked:
Bristol City Council has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Thanks Bristol City Council!
I've geocoded the data for mapping, analysis, whatevs
#FOI #localgov #UKhousing #proptech #opendata #openaddresses
Bristol City Council has released its Council Tax address list as open data www.owenboswarva.com/blog/post-ad...
Thanks Bristol City Council!
I've geocoded the data for mapping, analysis, whatevs
#FOI #localgov #UKhousing #proptech #opendata #openaddresses
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Government says the new local government system in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will be "simpler, clearer, more accountable".
But drawing boundaries that make sense is proving difficult.
Stephen McNair reports
But drawing boundaries that make sense is proving difficult.
Stephen McNair reports
Transforming local government: what next in the East?
Local government reorganisation in the East took a step forward in September, with nine proposals submitted to government. So what happens now? Local government reorganisation in the East took a step ...
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Government says the new local government system in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will be "simpler, clearer, more accountable".
But drawing boundaries that make sense is proving difficult.
Stephen McNair reports
But drawing boundaries that make sense is proving difficult.
Stephen McNair reports
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
I've done deep-dive into latest @britishelectionstudy.com wave to explain rise of Reform:
- Who are their voters? (pretty working-class)
- What do they care about? (immigration)
- What do they want? (lower immigration)
- Plus why I think "accommodation doesn't work" needs more nuance
🧵 of results
- Who are their voters? (pretty working-class)
- What do they care about? (immigration)
- What do they want? (lower immigration)
- Plus why I think "accommodation doesn't work" needs more nuance
🧵 of results
Who is Voting Reform? And Why?
The who, what, when, how and huh of why Reform has gained so much support in such a short period of time
jamesbreckwoldt.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I've done deep-dive into latest @britishelectionstudy.com wave to explain rise of Reform:
- Who are their voters? (pretty working-class)
- What do they care about? (immigration)
- What do they want? (lower immigration)
- Plus why I think "accommodation doesn't work" needs more nuance
🧵 of results
- Who are their voters? (pretty working-class)
- What do they care about? (immigration)
- What do they want? (lower immigration)
- Plus why I think "accommodation doesn't work" needs more nuance
🧵 of results
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Times, page 14.
On page 2 they had an article about how Reform would win a majority if the election was held now.
On page 2 they had an article about how Reform would win a majority if the election was held now.
September 27, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Times, page 14.
On page 2 they had an article about how Reform would win a majority if the election was held now.
On page 2 they had an article about how Reform would win a majority if the election was held now.
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
it's almost as if being part of the EU had economic benefits, and that #brexit was based on lies...
UK needs ‘ambitious’ EU youth migration deal, says Rachel Reeves 👏
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
UK needs ‘ambitious’ EU youth migration deal, says Rachel Reeves
The chancellor believes allowing young people to live and work in Britain would boost the economy and reduce the need for tax rises in the budget
www.thetimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:19 AM
it's almost as if being part of the EU had economic benefits, and that #brexit was based on lies...
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.
So I wrote a blog about ten things you can do *right now* to help defeat Farage, Musk, and rightwing populism.
From scrutinising Reform councillors to demanding the UK Govt leave X - get involved:
guyshrubsole.substack.com/p/ten-things...
So I wrote a blog about ten things you can do *right now* to help defeat Farage, Musk, and rightwing populism.
From scrutinising Reform councillors to demanding the UK Govt leave X - get involved:
guyshrubsole.substack.com/p/ten-things...
Ten things you can do to help defeat Farage, Musk, and rightwing populism
I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.
guyshrubsole.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.
So I wrote a blog about ten things you can do *right now* to help defeat Farage, Musk, and rightwing populism.
From scrutinising Reform councillors to demanding the UK Govt leave X - get involved:
guyshrubsole.substack.com/p/ten-things...
So I wrote a blog about ten things you can do *right now* to help defeat Farage, Musk, and rightwing populism.
From scrutinising Reform councillors to demanding the UK Govt leave X - get involved:
guyshrubsole.substack.com/p/ten-things...
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
I mean this seems like a legitimate question from @annaturley.bsky.social
September 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I mean this seems like a legitimate question from @annaturley.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
this is a huge failure of #ukgov to get the facts out, and of UK media to report the truth
63% of people think net migration rose in the last 12 months
8% of people think it fell
Yet it fell by 400,000 in 2024 vs 2023
[It is falling further in 2025]
Public service broadcasters are doing a core part of their job on this topic badly if that 8% is not closer to 30% at least
8% of people think it fell
Yet it fell by 400,000 in 2024 vs 2023
[It is falling further in 2025]
Public service broadcasters are doing a core part of their job on this topic badly if that 8% is not closer to 30% at least
August 23, 2025 at 7:41 AM
this is a huge failure of #ukgov to get the facts out, and of UK media to report the truth
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
The cost of Reform UK’s anti-environmental policies - neweconomics.org/2025/05/the-... "will cause significant damage to the UK economy and destroy tens of thousands of good paying jobs." #reform not just bad people, but economically illiterate ones... #climatecrisis
The cost of Reform UK's anti-environmental policies
Reform UK has said it will scrap net zero and cut all renewable subsidies - the impact would be hugely damaging
neweconomics.org
July 27, 2025 at 8:28 AM
The cost of Reform UK’s anti-environmental policies - neweconomics.org/2025/05/the-... "will cause significant damage to the UK economy and destroy tens of thousands of good paying jobs." #reform not just bad people, but economically illiterate ones... #climatecrisis
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Girls are taking the lead in playground design.
A new public play space, shaped by the ideas of teenage girls, has opened in Chelmsford, promising an inclusive and fun environment for everyone.
Jenny Rhodes reports
A new public play space, shaped by the ideas of teenage girls, has opened in Chelmsford, promising an inclusive and fun environment for everyone.
Jenny Rhodes reports
A new play area in Chelmsford is designed by local schoolgirls
What can be done about boys dominating playground space? Ask girls to help design public parks
eastangliabylines.co.uk
July 14, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Girls are taking the lead in playground design.
A new public play space, shaped by the ideas of teenage girls, has opened in Chelmsford, promising an inclusive and fun environment for everyone.
Jenny Rhodes reports
A new public play space, shaped by the ideas of teenage girls, has opened in Chelmsford, promising an inclusive and fun environment for everyone.
Jenny Rhodes reports
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
The sheer cruelty of reducing disabled people's survival needs to a "windfall" is beyond belief, writes The Bear.
These headlines don't expose a welfare failure; they expose a media ecosystem comfortable with punching down to hide a failure of wages.
These headlines don't expose a welfare failure; they expose a media ecosystem comfortable with punching down to hide a failure of wages.
The £25k myth: how the media turns struggle into scandal
A cherry-picked calculation, a broken labour market, and a government using tabloid outrage as cover for cuts. Welcome to austerity with a fresh coat of paint
eastangliabylines.co.uk
July 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
The sheer cruelty of reducing disabled people's survival needs to a "windfall" is beyond belief, writes The Bear.
These headlines don't expose a welfare failure; they expose a media ecosystem comfortable with punching down to hide a failure of wages.
These headlines don't expose a welfare failure; they expose a media ecosystem comfortable with punching down to hide a failure of wages.
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Breckland Council says it made a profit from selling Barnham Broom golf course.
But it didn’t. It made a £2.7m loss.
So why the misrepresentation?
Here’s Ian Milligan with what our investigation uncovered: 👇
But it didn’t. It made a £2.7m loss.
So why the misrepresentation?
Here’s Ian Milligan with what our investigation uncovered: 👇
What Breckland didn’t say about the Barnham Broom sale
Breckland Council claims a profit from the Barnham Broom sale– yet omitted millions in hidden costs and clawbacks from its public narrative
eastangliabylines.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Breckland Council says it made a profit from selling Barnham Broom golf course.
But it didn’t. It made a £2.7m loss.
So why the misrepresentation?
Here’s Ian Milligan with what our investigation uncovered: 👇
But it didn’t. It made a £2.7m loss.
So why the misrepresentation?
Here’s Ian Milligan with what our investigation uncovered: 👇
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
NEW: Big study of low-traffic neighbourhoods in London suggest they cut road injuries and deaths by more than a third within their boundaries with no apparent negative safety effect on nearby roads. This feels a *major* boost for proponents of such schemes.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
London’s low-traffic zones ‘cut deaths and injuries by more than a third’
Exclusive: Study also finds no change in number of casualties on roads just outside low-traffic neighbourhoods
www.theguardian.com
July 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
NEW: Big study of low-traffic neighbourhoods in London suggest they cut road injuries and deaths by more than a third within their boundaries with no apparent negative safety effect on nearby roads. This feels a *major* boost for proponents of such schemes.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
👉 https://www.weeklyosm.eu/archives/18001 👈
Issue 780 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Issue 780 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
July 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
👉 https://www.weeklyosm.eu/archives/18001 👈
Issue 780 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Issue 780 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
I struggle to get people who are still X users and do comms on X to understand this: people who don’t have X accounts (or aren’t logged in) won’t be able to see your posts like they used to. And it is a surprise when I point this out because they never think about how the platform has changed
twitter had a huge role in disaster comms (we all know), but last i checked, people can no longer check for this without having an account? this ought to be like a top concern for people communicating?
We should all be yelling at our state officials about the complete insanity of posting vital emergency information *exclusively* on Twitter/X and/or Facebook in 2025.
There is absolutely NO good excuse for this.
Many, many people don’t use those platforms. Many never did.
There is absolutely NO good excuse for this.
Many, many people don’t use those platforms. Many never did.
July 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I struggle to get people who are still X users and do comms on X to understand this: people who don’t have X accounts (or aren’t logged in) won’t be able to see your posts like they used to. And it is a surprise when I point this out because they never think about how the platform has changed
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Followed a link in a message on my phone to legislation.gov.uk, and this time got fed up enough of its desktop-only website to do something about it: presenting adlegem.dracos.co.uk which will make a legislation.gov.uk page readable on mobile :)
Followed a legislation.gov.uk link on your phone? Found it impossible to read?
adlegem.dracos.co.uk
July 5, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Followed a link in a message on my phone to legislation.gov.uk, and this time got fed up enough of its desktop-only website to do something about it: presenting adlegem.dracos.co.uk which will make a legislation.gov.uk page readable on mobile :)
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
A council spun a £7mn golf club sold for £6.9mn 19 years later as a success.
The article reveals how a prime 250-acre asset should have soared in value, not lost it.
Don't miss this crucial read. Ian Milligan reports
The article reveals how a prime 250-acre asset should have soared in value, not lost it.
Don't miss this crucial read. Ian Milligan reports
Council golf club sale slammed – real loss hidden behind ‘profit’ claims
Resident breaks down figures to show golf club sale cost public millions, despite council’s ‘profit’ claim
eastangliabylines.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 5:11 PM
A council spun a £7mn golf club sold for £6.9mn 19 years later as a success.
The article reveals how a prime 250-acre asset should have soared in value, not lost it.
Don't miss this crucial read. Ian Milligan reports
The article reveals how a prime 250-acre asset should have soared in value, not lost it.
Don't miss this crucial read. Ian Milligan reports
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
👉 https://www.weeklyosm.eu/archives/17976 👈
Issue 779 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Issue 779 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
June 29, 2025 at 10:32 AM
👉 https://www.weeklyosm.eu/archives/17976 👈
Issue 779 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Issue 779 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Downtime for rowmaps. From 7am on Monday June 30th I will be updating rowmaps so that OS maps are provided by using the Maps API of the OS Data Hub. If all goes well, it should be over in less than 20 minutes. We shall see!!!
June 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Downtime for rowmaps. From 7am on Monday June 30th I will be updating rowmaps so that OS maps are provided by using the Maps API of the OS Data Hub. If all goes well, it should be over in less than 20 minutes. We shall see!!!
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
👉 https://www.weeklyosm.eu/archives/17919 👈
Issue 776 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Issue 776 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
June 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
👉 https://www.weeklyosm.eu/archives/17919 👈
Issue 776 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Issue 776 of #weeklyOSM is out. 🌏
涵蓋 #開放街圖 #osm 世界大小事的新一期 weeklyOSM 已經發佈 🚀
Lisez les dernières nouvelles de l'univers #openstreetmap 🗺️
Viele Neuigkeiten aus der #osm Welt 📰
新一期的OSM周刊已经发布 🌏
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
"Imagine that you’re trying to write out very specific instructions for someone that’s good at misunderstanding anything that might involve going beyond a very literal interpretation of your request."
This, however, is absolutely universal #FOI advice.
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
This, however, is absolutely universal #FOI advice.
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
Using FOIA for emails
Requesting emails can be extremely insightful, but also a bit of an exemptions minefield.
www.muckrock.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Imagine that you’re trying to write out very specific instructions for someone that’s good at misunderstanding anything that might involve going beyond a very literal interpretation of your request."
This, however, is absolutely universal #FOI advice.
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
This, however, is absolutely universal #FOI advice.
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
UK Government faces claims of serious security and data protection problems in One Login digital ID www.computerweekly.com/news/3666225... by @bryanglick.bsky.social
GOV.UK One Login www.sign-in.service.gov.uk
#digitalID #cybersecurity #dataprotection #govtech
GOV.UK One Login www.sign-in.service.gov.uk
#digitalID #cybersecurity #dataprotection #govtech
April 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
UK Government faces claims of serious security and data protection problems in One Login digital ID www.computerweekly.com/news/3666225... by @bryanglick.bsky.social
GOV.UK One Login www.sign-in.service.gov.uk
#digitalID #cybersecurity #dataprotection #govtech
GOV.UK One Login www.sign-in.service.gov.uk
#digitalID #cybersecurity #dataprotection #govtech
It seems that The Nottingham Building Society's online banking login uses the domain nottingham-building-society.my.site.com . Isn't this a really bad idea, since it's teaching people that it ok to enter credentials into dodgy looking websites? Any comments @salesforce.com ?
Login Template Title
nottingham-building-society.my.site.com
April 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
It seems that The Nottingham Building Society's online banking login uses the domain nottingham-building-society.my.site.com . Isn't this a really bad idea, since it's teaching people that it ok to enter credentials into dodgy looking websites? Any comments @salesforce.com ?
Reposted by Robert Whittaker
Folk may remember my FoI request for West Midlands Fire Service hydrant locations, some years ago, was refused on grounds of national security. That was upheld by a tier-1 tribunal.
There's now a website listing them:
There's now a website listing them:
Index
dataservices.riscauthority.co.uk
March 13, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Folk may remember my FoI request for West Midlands Fire Service hydrant locations, some years ago, was refused on grounds of national security. That was upheld by a tier-1 tribunal.
There's now a website listing them:
There's now a website listing them: