Robert Townsend

Senior Broadcast Journalist @BBCBreakfast @BBCNews, former journalist, reporter, presenter @ ITV & Sky. views mine.

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@IKEAUK on hold to you - yet again - for ages today, and once again you hang up on answering. Spent £1000s of pounds in your store on kitchen and other goods, half of which are defect, case has been ongoing for months - is this really the service you want to provide?

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

👇🏻

[Josh Mcloughlin @JoshMcloughlin]

Me for @Telegraph (£) on why academics are leaving UK higher ed:

1000s of jobs & courses cut
Pensions cut
Learning politicised
Low paid, precarious work
REF & Kafkaesque bureaucracy
AI undermining teaching and research
Dependence on itnl student fees
1/2

https://t.co/Ll4FwBtgD1

[Josh Mcloughlin @JoshMcloughlin]

Me for @Telegraph (£) on why academics are leaving UK higher ed:

1000s of jobs & courses cut
Pensions cut
Learning politicised
Low paid, precarious work
REF & Kafkaesque bureaucracy
AI undermining teaching and research
Dependence on itnl student fees
1/2

https://t.co/Ll4FwBtgD1

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@JulietRieden - Hi Juliet, Robert here from BBC News, please can you follow me back for a DM, thank you

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the BBC understands

[BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking]

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the BBC understands https://t.co/6qVtVZJ5GQ

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@opinion_black @elonmusk What’s up with supporting gay people?

[BBC Breakfast @BBCBreakfast]

Emergency services have been called after "multiple people" were stabbed on a train.

British Transport Police say two people have been arrested and are currently responding to the incident on a train to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

https://t.co/rquWTBlxM5

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

The 49-year-old, who has been named locally as Wayne Broadhurst, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

[The Scottish Sun @ScottishSun]

Dogwalker stabbed to death in horror Uxbridge attack is pictured

https://t.co/3jqpx113ru

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

One man has died and another has been seriously injured after a triple stabbing in #Uxbridge

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Arrest made after man dies in triple stabbing https://t.co/mGynKch0l0

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Arrest made after man dies in triple stabbing https://t.co/mGynKch0l0

[William Hanson @williamhanson]

Dame Patricia Routledge, 1929 - 2025.

Now off to the candlelight supper in the sky. Thank you for everything.

Hyacinth’s final words in Keeping Up Appearances seem fitting.

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

A true legend of comedy - rest in peace.

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Keeping Up Appearances star Patricia Routledge dies at 96 https://t.co/jhV7VhhzY2

[Henry Zeffman @hzeffman]

NEW: Angela Rayner has also resigned as deputy leader of the Labour Party

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@JoeWilsonwords It’s been a pleasure working with you Joe - all the best for the future!

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@MeganJBanner Hi Megan, Rob here at BBC News please can you follow me back for a DM, thanks

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@JerichoLanehub - Hi there team, Rob here from @BBCNews - please can you follow me back for a DM or send me a contact number or email to get in touch directly - thanks!

[Robert Townsend @RobertoTownsend]

@WorldInOneCity1 Hi there guys, Rob here from @BBCNews - wonder if you can please follow me back for a DM or provide a contact / email for me to get in touch please, thank you.

[BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking]

Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Jewish museum in Washington DC, say US officials https://t.co/H9ERNhN1D8

[BBC News (World) @BBCWorld]

Pope Francis dies aged 88, Vatican says https://t.co/rY9M9XT0mI

[Martin Hibbert @MartinHibbert]

Enough is enough: Open Letter from Manchester Arena Survivor Martin Hibbert to the Justice Secretary @ShabanaMahmood & @MoJGovUK

My name is Martin Hibbert. I am a survivor of the Manchester Arena bombing, the devastating act of terror that changed my life forever on 22nd May 2017. I was 6 meters from the bomb when it exploded. My body was shattered. My life irreversibly altered. I have spent every single day since then trying to rebuild my life — physically, emotionally, and mentally.

So you’ll understand why I am absolutely disgusted — beyond words — to learn that Hashem Abedi, a man who was found guilty of playing a key role in that heinous attack, has somehow been given the comfort and privilege of kitchen access in prison.

Let’s call this what it is: a catastrophic failure of your duty to protect prison staff and the public from an unrepentant terrorist. Not only was Abedi allowed the freedom to move around and use facilities that should never be available to someone like him — he was able to track and target three prison guards using boiling oil and homemade weapons.

Boiling oil. Homemade weapons. Again. This is not the first time he’s attacked guards. How many more times does this need to happen before you take meaningful action?

This is a man convicted of being involved in the murder of 22 innocent people, including children. How is it remotely acceptable that he has access to anything that could pose a danger — to staff, to other inmates, or to the principles of justice itself?

I was led to believe that people like him — mass murderers, terrorists — would face a regime of strict control and zero comfort. I was told justice would be served. What I see now is not justice. It’s a shameful lack of accountability and basic prison security.

I’m not just angry. I’m broken by this. And I am furious that the pain of survivors like me is being so blatantly disrespected by your inaction.

This cannot continue. Something drastic needs to be done. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Now.

Review his prison privileges. Strip him of any access to areas where he can make or find weapons. Protect your staff. Protect the memory of those we lost. Respect those who survived.

Because right now, it feels like you’ve forgotten us.

Martin Hibbert
Manchester Arena Survivor