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
November 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Ambitions beyond means in defence reviews also a tale old as time
Understandable services will scrap for what limited extra £ there is (all can make valid arguments given hollowing out). Would it be as bad if there was a funded credible pathway to 3%?
Understandable services will scrap for what limited extra £ there is (all can make valid arguments given hollowing out). Would it be as bad if there was a funded credible pathway to 3%?
November 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Ambitions beyond means in defence reviews also a tale old as time
Understandable services will scrap for what limited extra £ there is (all can make valid arguments given hollowing out). Would it be as bad if there was a funded credible pathway to 3%?
Understandable services will scrap for what limited extra £ there is (all can make valid arguments given hollowing out). Would it be as bad if there was a funded credible pathway to 3%?
Struggle to think of something more harmful to societal resilience and cohesion - and we were already at a pretty low base
For all their talk of “whole of society resilience” the UK gov needs to recognise this is a critical aspect of national security
For all their talk of “whole of society resilience” the UK gov needs to recognise this is a critical aspect of national security
November 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Struggle to think of something more harmful to societal resilience and cohesion - and we were already at a pretty low base
For all their talk of “whole of society resilience” the UK gov needs to recognise this is a critical aspect of national security
For all their talk of “whole of society resilience” the UK gov needs to recognise this is a critical aspect of national security
Anneliese Dodds in February
“I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing. Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending.”
“I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing. Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending.”
November 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Anneliese Dodds in February
“I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing. Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending.”
“I also expected we would collectively discuss our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing. Even 3% may only be the start, and it will be impossible to raise the substantial resources needed just through tactical cuts to public spending.”
Indeed, fell in wash up - had the support of one of the main parties but not the other..
October 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Indeed, fell in wash up - had the support of one of the main parties but not the other..
Indeed, but UK system does allow a gov to pass bits of primary leg bit by bit, to add to the broader un-codified constitutional pile
Unfortunately everything can be undone with simple majority, but you can embed norms that need a fight in Parliament to undo
Unfortunately everything can be undone with simple majority, but you can embed norms that need a fight in Parliament to undo
October 26, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Indeed, but UK system does allow a gov to pass bits of primary leg bit by bit, to add to the broader un-codified constitutional pile
Unfortunately everything can be undone with simple majority, but you can embed norms that need a fight in Parliament to undo
Unfortunately everything can be undone with simple majority, but you can embed norms that need a fight in Parliament to undo
And to be clear, no public attribution to Russia by the PM in the Commons (or by any other British Minister as far as I can see - though happy to be corrected)
October 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
And to be clear, no public attribution to Russia by the PM in the Commons (or by any other British Minister as far as I can see - though happy to be corrected)
The attacks are obviously appalling - but contrast to (and accepting different orders of magnitude) the response to the Skripal poisoning
These hybrid attacks below threshold of open conflict exploit ambiguity and deniability - clear attribution, firm response, imposing costs are key to deterrence
These hybrid attacks below threshold of open conflict exploit ambiguity and deniability - clear attribution, firm response, imposing costs are key to deterrence
October 26, 2025 at 8:29 AM
The attacks are obviously appalling - but contrast to (and accepting different orders of magnitude) the response to the Skripal poisoning
These hybrid attacks below threshold of open conflict exploit ambiguity and deniability - clear attribution, firm response, imposing costs are key to deterrence
These hybrid attacks below threshold of open conflict exploit ambiguity and deniability - clear attribution, firm response, imposing costs are key to deterrence
He is surprised at muted British reaction to arson by Russian proxies at Keir Starmer’s former home
But - Russia does this, and the government’s official response is… what?
Nothing except ‘senior Whitehall figures’ in the FT in May (discussions being held) and no mention by the PM in Commons
But - Russia does this, and the government’s official response is… what?
Nothing except ‘senior Whitehall figures’ in the FT in May (discussions being held) and no mention by the PM in Commons
October 26, 2025 at 8:29 AM
He is surprised at muted British reaction to arson by Russian proxies at Keir Starmer’s former home
But - Russia does this, and the government’s official response is… what?
Nothing except ‘senior Whitehall figures’ in the FT in May (discussions being held) and no mention by the PM in Commons
But - Russia does this, and the government’s official response is… what?
Nothing except ‘senior Whitehall figures’ in the FT in May (discussions being held) and no mention by the PM in Commons
Just to be clear - that’s turnout of members and affiliates (unions, socialist societies), not only Labour members?
Electorate of about 1M
Electorate of about 1M
October 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Just to be clear - that’s turnout of members and affiliates (unions, socialist societies), not only Labour members?
Electorate of about 1M
Electorate of about 1M