Martin Robbins
@mjrobbins.com
Substack: mjrobbins.com
Podcast: abundancepod.com
Podcast: abundancepod.com
Pinned
Martin Robbins
@mjrobbins.com
· 23d
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Not since the Corn Laws have we had a government this committed to keeping food prices high.
UK supermarkets set to be hit by higher business rates after Treasury U-turn
Chancellor expected to use Budget to include large retail premises in the top band of the property-based levy
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Not since the Corn Laws have we had a government this committed to keeping food prices high.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
No, Danny Kruger, humans aren’t pack animals. This isn’t what “pack animal” means
November 22, 2025 at 8:45 AM
No, Danny Kruger, humans aren’t pack animals. This isn’t what “pack animal” means
Reposted by Martin Robbins
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
The CDC website now disseminates disinformation about vaccines, claiming erroneously that infant vaccines might cause autism, when we know conclusively that they do not. It is difficult to overstate just how dangerous this is. www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This does feel like a major crossing of the Rubicon – the world's best-funded and in many ways most powerful public health agency is now actively pushing disinformation.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
I know there's a *lot* going on to care about at the moment, but this one really is significant, and matters well beyond the US.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Home schooling is a disaster for the majority of children it is inflicted on. It’s recent rise in large part due to modern parenting techniques (particularly “playful parenting”) that basically make it impossible for parents to tell their children to ever do anything ever.
Over on Threads there's discourse about some 28 year-old unschooled woman not knowing that Anne Frank died because her mother left the upsetting parts out of history when teaching her, and that would be an excellent example of why unschooling is frequently a fancy word for educational neglect.
November 19, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Home schooling is a disaster for the majority of children it is inflicted on. It’s recent rise in large part due to modern parenting techniques (particularly “playful parenting”) that basically make it impossible for parents to tell their children to ever do anything ever.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Said this a lot before, but there is no politician conveying any sense of what they think the country should look in 2040 or 2050, so no sense they are taking steps to get there.
Good test of how UK politics at least is failing, there isn't a single frontline politician with a convincing big picture view of the country. Nostalgia, simplism, and warm words will have to do instead.
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Said this a lot before, but there is no politician conveying any sense of what they think the country should look in 2040 or 2050, so no sense they are taking steps to get there.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
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
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
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.
Prime example of why the contract between the public and the police is breaking down, regardless of long term crime trends. Thames Valley Police don’t even think it’s their job to investigate this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kidlington fly-tipping: Criminals dump mountain of waste in field
The enormous pile of rubbish is called an
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Prime example of why the contract between the public and the police is breaking down, regardless of long term crime trends. Thames Valley Police don’t even think it’s their job to investigate this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I can’t wait to visit Hitler Park and see herds of Hitlers running around in the wild.
Exclusive: Adolf Hitler’s DNA has been sequenced by scientists
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
Hitler had hidden genetic sexual disorder, DNA analysis reveals
The Nazi dictator had Kallmann syndrome, which hinders normal puberty and the development of sexual organs, according to groundbreaking research
www.thetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I can’t wait to visit Hitler Park and see herds of Hitlers running around in the wild.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
One of the great tweets from blessed memory: ‘the Uk is a strange land where people think £100k is a very high salary but also £1m is a normal price for a family home’
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
One of the great tweets from blessed memory: ‘the Uk is a strange land where people think £100k is a very high salary but also £1m is a normal price for a family home’
I mean this is just basic stats, unwisely branded as AI because someone spends too much time on LinkedIn and hasn’t spotted the vibe shift.
With the caveat that it's impossible to know what is really happening from such a short story, this is clearly a terrible idea www.theguardian.com/education/20...
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets
Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classrooms
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I mean this is just basic stats, unwisely branded as AI because someone spends too much time on LinkedIn and hasn’t spotted the vibe shift.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the west
New research shows how incentives in the modern media ecosystem help explain rising division and negativity
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Reposted by Martin Robbins
What did Watson and Crick discover in 1953?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
What really happened between Franklin, Watson and Crick in the discovery of the DNA double helix? — Genetics Unzipped
Kat Arney chats with Professor Matthew Cobb about what really happened between James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin during the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.
geneticsunzipped.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
What did Watson and Crick discover in 1953?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes!”
Now would be a good time to listen to my interview with the brilliant @matthewcobb.bsky.social about Franklin, Watson, Crick and the discovery of the double helix. geneticsunzipped.com/blog/2023/8/...
Reposted by Martin Robbins
A mind-boggling tale of HS2-related NIMBYism and general whatthefuckery
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A mind-boggling tale of HS2-related NIMBYism and general whatthefuckery
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Duncan woke up and chose violence
Tax policy on the British left is pure "anti-bedtime left". Bizarre idea that you can have a big social democratic welfare state without everyone contributing properly www.economist.com/britain/2025...
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Duncan woke up and chose violence
ICYMI: The maddening, exclusive story of how HS2 were forced to build a state-of-the-art road bridge for a track that was unsuitable for motor vehicles.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM
ICYMI: The maddening, exclusive story of how HS2 were forced to build a state-of-the-art road bridge for a track that was unsuitable for motor vehicles.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
This is genuinely extraordinary
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
This is genuinely extraordinary
For the discerning evening reader: how a bureaucratic nightmare forced HS2 to build a 2-lane road bridge for a track that's not suitable for motor vehicles.
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM
For the discerning evening reader: how a bureaucratic nightmare forced HS2 to build a 2-lane road bridge for a track that's not suitable for motor vehicles.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Blockbuster scoop - this is worse than the bat tunnel!
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Blockbuster scoop - this is worse than the bat tunnel!
Reposted by Martin Robbins
This is honestly like something from an episode of Yes Prime Minister.
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
This is honestly like something from an episode of Yes Prime Minister.
Enjoy an absolutely mad HS2 story with your Monday lunch.
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Enjoy an absolutely mad HS2 story with your Monday lunch.
Reposted by Martin Robbins
This is an extraordinary read which does make you want to bang your head against the millions of pounds of steel and concrete used to build this pointless bridge
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
This is an extraordinary read which does make you want to bang your head against the millions of pounds of steel and concrete used to build this pointless bridge
Reposted by Martin Robbins
Absolute marmalade-dropper, this. Well worth a read.
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Absolute marmalade-dropper, this. Well worth a read.
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
How HS2 built a bridge to nowhere
A state-of-the-art road bridge has been built deep in the heart of rural Buckinghamshire. Designed to carry traffic over the HS2 railway, there's just one tiny problem - there's no actual road.
martinrobbins.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
My latest: Move over bat tunnel, here’s the wild story of how HS2 were forced to build a multi-million pound bridge for a road that… doesn’t actually exist.
I have an actual proper exclusive story on the Substack tomorrow morning of bat tunnel proportions, which I’ll be covering with a multimedia extravaganza of post, pod and experimental YouTube video. So, er, get yourself subscribed to the ‘stack…
November 2, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I have an actual proper exclusive story on the Substack tomorrow morning of bat tunnel proportions, which I’ll be covering with a multimedia extravaganza of post, pod and experimental YouTube video. So, er, get yourself subscribed to the ‘stack…
On an unrelated note will be watching keenly tonight to see if our theory about Celia Imrie holds up… (after that weird portrait wink in episode 1)
Tempted to write a 10,000 word Substack on what Kate Garraway's behaviour in #CelebrityTraitors tells us about the broken culture in mainstream TV news journalism.
October 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
On an unrelated note will be watching keenly tonight to see if our theory about Celia Imrie holds up… (after that weird portrait wink in episode 1)