Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
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robertwoolley.bsky.social
Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
@robertwoolley.bsky.social
Cynical mid-50 something -Gen X'er. British/English/Irish 48er. Personal politics complex. Undiagnosed Aspergers. Transport person who became a software dev in late 40s.

Brent, London/Dublin/Kilkenny/ASEAN. (But mainly Brent).

Blocks arseholes.
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Ifac report shows big increase in 🇮🇪 exports to 🇺🇸 Jan to May 2025 was down to protein and peptide-based hormones. These are made in Kinsale. All going to Indiana where Eli Lilly has large plants.

(Flaw in Trump's manufacturing plans - inputs.)

Useful discussion on outlook for exports & corp tax.
November 12, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
They’ve laid off so many people that the government is now getting its economic data from DoorDash.
November 12, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
My central London London Underground video walks are quite popular. Out in the sticks popularity is understandably bit more niche. But Hendon Central to Brent Cross - "Lonely glory amidst fields" - saw me analyse a couple of incredible photos of a very rural Hendon Central
youtu.be/tw-M7AdrF1I
Hendon Central to Brent Cross: "Lonely glory amidst fields"
YouTube video by The Underground Map
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
A selection of fury from Labour MPs, ministers and advisors - “This is batshit crazy” “they are f-ing deluded” “did we watch the Tories and think, let’s have a bit of that?” “why are you slagging off your main rival and then putting him on the morning round to show everyone how much better he is”
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Ukraine is facing a worsening shortage of soldiers as record numbers of men flee to Europe, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned in an interview.
Ukraine faces ‘huge problems’ finding soldiers as men flee abroad, says Kyiv mayor
In an interview, Vitali Klitschko describes Russian troops attacking in relentless waves “like a video game” as he calls for the draft age to be lowered.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA

Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drilling
www.theguardian.com/environment...
Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA
Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drilling
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Been thinking of the Noah Smith/Heathrow thing this morning. People say he hates Britain, but there is an implicit admiration of the best traditions of UK journalism in getting a 2,000 word think piece dissecting a whole country's future out of spending 90 minutes in one of its airports.
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Finkelstein gave a free pass to open racists like Murray, Philips & others etc for > 10 years because their primary focus is anti-Muslim bigotry.

Now because events in the US make it obvious that (as @samfr.bsky.social has long pointed out) this opens the door to anti-Semitism, he's worried..
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
People may criticise the BBC but name me any other broadcaster that would launch live immersive episodes of W1A and The Thick of It in the same week without any advance notice. That's visionary stuff.
November 12, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Always think it's important to point out that our healthcare isn't free, it's free at the point of use - we all pay for it through a variety of taxes. A lot of people don't realise this and it helps counter the (US, usually) narrative of 'who'll pay for it?!''. We all will, we all do.
Average healthcare costs in the US:

Giving birth? $18,000

Cancer treatment? $150,000

One month ICU stay? Between 30k and 150k.

That’s not including copays, deductibles, interest and all the other hoops you have to jump through.

Cost in Canada? $0.

Cost in the UK? $0.

Cost in Australia? $0.
November 12, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
This is an appalling judgment to read. Two Chief Constables found in contempt of court for misleading the court about the existence of video footage. But this was only discovered when the matter made it to the Court of Appeal. Incredible perseverance.

www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Judges set to decide fate of police chief constable guilty of contempt of court
Exclusive: Ivan Balhatchet, Northamptonshire’s chief constable, could face up to two years in jail or a fine for repeated failure to obey rulings
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
It might make the police pay attention if one of their number did time.

Pour encourager les autres
This is an appalling judgment to read. Two Chief Constables found in contempt of court for misleading the court about the existence of video footage. But this was only discovered when the matter made it to the Court of Appeal. Incredible perseverance.

www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWC...
Judges set to decide fate of police chief constable guilty of contempt of court
Exclusive: Ivan Balhatchet, Northamptonshire’s chief constable, could face up to two years in jail or a fine for repeated failure to obey rulings
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Interesting comparison. Brexit was the raising of non tariff barriers, leaving the EU's Single Market and Customs Union, and, to a first approximation, unchanged terms with the rest of the world. It was done in a relatively orderly, legalised fashion.
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?

Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 12, 2025 at 8:35 AM
She makes good points but takes too many words.
Zadie Smith.
With alt text.
November 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Jesus christ people the UK government are not banning VPNs stop getting caught out by dogshit headlines on social media sharing cards.
November 12, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Oxfordshire County Council has clarified that the Ghostbusters hearse would not be exempt from the city’s Congestion Charge. A spokesperson told us “It’s not as simple as buying a hearse. In order to qualify for a permit, you must also be a funeral care business.”
November 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
When confronted by ITV News on a suburban street in west London, Gravill froze. “Oh f***,” he muttered

“I am an ethnocentrist,” he said. “I believe in supporting and advocating for the interests of my people, currently being driven to the verge of extinction”

Parroting Musk and Robinson, isn’t he
November 12, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Today marks the anniversary of the Sloane Square Underground station disaster when, on the night of 12 November 1940, 37 passengers & staff lost their lives during the London Blitz. Today, in remembrance, London Underground unveils a plaque to their memory. #london #history
November 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
I think the "uptight church-going not quite reconciled with themselves" part of the LGBTQ community is the only part that Wes won't throw under the bus to get where he wants. And even that's doubtful.
November 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
That's except for viewers in Ireland who do not waste good spuds like this.
Under-the-weather TikTokers are slicing raw potatoes and placing them in their — and their children’s — socks before bed. The theory is that the potato draws out toxins.

However, experts warn against relying on folk remedies over medical care.
No, putting a potato in your sock will not cure a cold
TikTokers are placing slices of raw potatoes in their — and their children’s socks — overnight to cure illnesses.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
LinkedIn Lunacy.
Brought down by Barclays ‘public policy thought leadership content’. What a way to go on.ft.com/3LslGp4
November 12, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
At Byline Times we’ve published dozens of articles on Sir Robbie Gibb’s role at GB News, the Jewish Chronicle, and of course BBC News for nearly five years

Tomorrow’s headlines today

bylinetimes.com?s=Sir+Robbie...
You searched for Sir Robbie Gibb – Byline Times
bylinetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
"This week the woke right took to saying that people who are black aren't properly British" complains Danny Finkelstein.

No, Danny, Douglas Murray, who you patronised, promoted and admired, has been saying *exactly this* for over a decade.

archive.ph/2025.11.12-0...
archive.ph
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Robert Woolley 🇬🇧🇮🇪
Keir Starmer has been spotted being escorted out of Londis Regent's Park shouting "I am the Prime minister and you will serve me strawberry sidekick NOW"
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM