Jess O'Thomson
@jessothomson.co.uk
Legal researcher, writer, journalist | Trans Rights Lead @ Good Law Project | PhD student @ University of Leeds
Views my own.
They/them
hello@jessothomson.co.uk
Views my own.
They/them
hello@jessothomson.co.uk
Pinned
Jess O'Thomson
@jessothomson.co.uk
· Dec 31
So. 2025 has been the most significant year of my life so far. And it's not even particularly close.
Trans rights came under attack this year in the UK. I have been trying my best to help fight back.
I've been a little busy. Here's a thread of some of what I have been up to 🧵
Trans rights came under attack this year in the UK. I have been trying my best to help fight back.
I've been a little busy. Here's a thread of some of what I have been up to 🧵
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
If everyone apart from the person who appointed them all leaves then that will sort it.
EXCL: Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shakeup of Keir Starmer’s operation after dramatic day - @kiranstacey.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Top civil servant could become third key No 10 departure in days
Exclusive: Cabinet secretary Chris Wormald is expected to follow Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan out the door
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:44 PM
If everyone apart from the person who appointed them all leaves then that will sort it.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
I know as a rape and sexual abuse survivor this all hits a bit differently for me, but this might be one of the most upsetting headlines I have ever read.
It's only if your worldview - like that of grooming gangs - is that girls from poorer families are just disposable playthings for the rich that this is all a hilarious joke.
'If you're not in the Epstein files, it just means you were a bit of a loser,' claims Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey | LBC
The ex-girlfriend of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has defended her former flame by saying anyone
www.lbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM
I know as a rape and sexual abuse survivor this all hits a bit differently for me, but this might be one of the most upsetting headlines I have ever read.
I know as a rape and sexual abuse survivor this all hits a bit differently for me, but this might be one of the most upsetting headlines I have ever read.
It's only if your worldview - like that of grooming gangs - is that girls from poorer families are just disposable playthings for the rich that this is all a hilarious joke.
'If you're not in the Epstein files, it just means you were a bit of a loser,' claims Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey | LBC
The ex-girlfriend of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has defended her former flame by saying anyone
www.lbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM
I know as a rape and sexual abuse survivor this all hits a bit differently for me, but this might be one of the most upsetting headlines I have ever read.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Now the King's Evil Counsellor is deposed we shall be govern'd well.
February 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Now the King's Evil Counsellor is deposed we shall be govern'd well.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
I think we can say there’s definitely Noticing Things going on now, at the BBC. You might have got this stuff piecemeal here and there but now they’re just laying it out in blunt terms.
February 8, 2026 at 10:52 PM
I think we can say there’s definitely Noticing Things going on now, at the BBC. You might have got this stuff piecemeal here and there but now they’re just laying it out in blunt terms.
This is madness. What is wrong with them?
NEW: Hearing that Starmer is considering making Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, Morgan McSweeney's deputies, his joint chiefs of staff.
February 8, 2026 at 7:20 PM
This is madness. What is wrong with them?
My money is on Jonathan Hinder for the "uber-woke" quote.
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 6:03 PM
My money is on Jonathan Hinder for the "uber-woke" quote.
Blue Labour needs to go down with him.
Against a corrupt, exhausted, unlucky Government, which under-estimated the threat from Reform, trying for its fifth General Election in a row, Morgan McSweeney delivered 33.7% of the vote. And he then made Starmer the most unpopular PM ever. That's the measure of the man's 'genius'.
February 8, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Blue Labour needs to go down with him.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Against a corrupt, exhausted, unlucky Government, which under-estimated the threat from Reform, trying for its fifth General Election in a row, Morgan McSweeney delivered 33.7% of the vote. And he then made Starmer the most unpopular PM ever. That's the measure of the man's 'genius'.
February 8, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Against a corrupt, exhausted, unlucky Government, which under-estimated the threat from Reform, trying for its fifth General Election in a row, Morgan McSweeney delivered 33.7% of the vote. And he then made Starmer the most unpopular PM ever. That's the measure of the man's 'genius'.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Going after feminist groups for standing with trans people is not 'protecting women', whatever some may claim.
Read and support our letter with nearly 150 feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations here: www.transsolidarityalliance.com/protectinclu...
Read and support our letter with nearly 150 feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations here: www.transsolidarityalliance.com/protectinclu...
February 8, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Going after feminist groups for standing with trans people is not 'protecting women', whatever some may claim.
Read and support our letter with nearly 150 feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations here: www.transsolidarityalliance.com/protectinclu...
Read and support our letter with nearly 150 feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations here: www.transsolidarityalliance.com/protectinclu...
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
“You can bring your sadness and you can bring your pain, and the pond erases that. And you can harness the collective strength of the women who’ve swum over the years.”
https://goodlawproject.org/s/4be590
https://goodlawproject.org/s/4be590
‘It’s the thing I’m most proud of’: the women fighting for trans inclusivity at Hampstead ponds
We’ve been supporting the women who fought off a legal threat from Sex Matters. Alice McCool hears their stories
goodlawproject.org
February 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM
“You can bring your sadness and you can bring your pain, and the pond erases that. And you can harness the collective strength of the women who’ve swum over the years.”
https://goodlawproject.org/s/4be590
https://goodlawproject.org/s/4be590
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Right that the prime minister has resigned. His successor, Keir Starmer, has a very difficult inheritance.
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Downing Street chief of staff
Exit of Mandelson protégé comes as Sir Keir Starmer seeks to stave off leadership speculation
www.ft.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Right that the prime minister has resigned. His successor, Keir Starmer, has a very difficult inheritance.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Morgan McSweeney has now resigned as Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff
February 8, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Morgan McSweeney has now resigned as Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff
Christ. Mahmood is genuinely terrifying. It's impossible to maintain the pretence that this is anything but a fundamentally reactionary government at this point.
February 8, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Christ. Mahmood is genuinely terrifying. It's impossible to maintain the pretence that this is anything but a fundamentally reactionary government at this point.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
And never forget that Dame Hilary Cass belittled as "shroud wavers" those of us asking, begging, for a regime that would keep trans children alive.
One of the wickedest things Wes Streeting has ever done is push politically convenient falsehoods about suicide rates amongst young trans people. We have new data from the National Child Mortality Database that exposes the truth he tried to cover up.
New data shows surge in trans kids’ suicides following healthcare rollbacks | Good Law Project
A freedom of information request by Good Law Project has found that deaths by suicide of trans young people under 18 surged following the withdrawal of gender-affirming healthcare
goodlaw.social
February 7, 2026 at 8:07 PM
And never forget that Dame Hilary Cass belittled as "shroud wavers" those of us asking, begging, for a regime that would keep trans children alive.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
After operating since 2009, Sheffield’s main WI is set to close because all the volunteers running it are leaving.
Trans exclusion means spaces for all women are being lost.
www.shwi.co.uk/post/2026-me...
Trans exclusion means spaces for all women are being lost.
www.shwi.co.uk/post/2026-me...
February 7, 2026 at 5:58 PM
After operating since 2009, Sheffield’s main WI is set to close because all the volunteers running it are leaving.
Trans exclusion means spaces for all women are being lost.
www.shwi.co.uk/post/2026-me...
Trans exclusion means spaces for all women are being lost.
www.shwi.co.uk/post/2026-me...
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
This sickens me so deeply because anyone who knew young people and their families within the trans community knew this was true. Could viscerally feel the damage that has been done to a whole generation. And the instinct from Labour was not to address the harm – it was to cover it up. Unforgivable.
What do you call someone whose instinct, confronted by evidence that their policies are contributing to a massive increase in deaths, is to cover it up? And should that person be a Labour Minister? Or in prison?
New data shows surge in trans kids’ suicides following healthcare rollbacks | Good Law Project
A freedom of information request by Good Law Project has found that deaths by suicide of trans young people under 18 surged following the withdrawal of gender-affirming healthcare
goodlawproject.org
February 7, 2026 at 4:38 PM
This sickens me so deeply because anyone who knew young people and their families within the trans community knew this was true. Could viscerally feel the damage that has been done to a whole generation. And the instinct from Labour was not to address the harm – it was to cover it up. Unforgivable.
This sickens me so deeply because anyone who knew young people and their families within the trans community knew this was true. Could viscerally feel the damage that has been done to a whole generation. And the instinct from Labour was not to address the harm – it was to cover it up. Unforgivable.
What do you call someone whose instinct, confronted by evidence that their policies are contributing to a massive increase in deaths, is to cover it up? And should that person be a Labour Minister? Or in prison?
New data shows surge in trans kids’ suicides following healthcare rollbacks | Good Law Project
A freedom of information request by Good Law Project has found that deaths by suicide of trans young people under 18 surged following the withdrawal of gender-affirming healthcare
goodlawproject.org
February 7, 2026 at 4:38 PM
This sickens me so deeply because anyone who knew young people and their families within the trans community knew this was true. Could viscerally feel the damage that has been done to a whole generation. And the instinct from Labour was not to address the harm – it was to cover it up. Unforgivable.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
One of the wickedest things Wes Streeting has ever done is push politically convenient falsehoods about suicide rates amongst young trans people. We have new data from the National Child Mortality Database that exposes the truth he tried to cover up.
New data shows surge in trans kids’ suicides following healthcare rollbacks | Good Law Project
A freedom of information request by Good Law Project has found that deaths by suicide of trans young people under 18 surged following the withdrawal of gender-affirming healthcare
goodlaw.social
February 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM
One of the wickedest things Wes Streeting has ever done is push politically convenient falsehoods about suicide rates amongst young trans people. We have new data from the National Child Mortality Database that exposes the truth he tried to cover up.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Political drama aside, when a Prime Minister cannot carry the House of Commons on whether government can be trusted on national security, PM’s authority is over.
Do not underestimate significance of MPs insisting on a parliamentary committee, and not government, to decide on Mandelson disclosures.
Do not underestimate significance of MPs insisting on a parliamentary committee, and not government, to decide on Mandelson disclosures.
February 7, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Political drama aside, when a Prime Minister cannot carry the House of Commons on whether government can be trusted on national security, PM’s authority is over.
Do not underestimate significance of MPs insisting on a parliamentary committee, and not government, to decide on Mandelson disclosures.
Do not underestimate significance of MPs insisting on a parliamentary committee, and not government, to decide on Mandelson disclosures.
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
Breaking: We have brought more than 140 feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations together to urge our politicians to act and protect inclusive spaces from expensive lawfare ⚖️
Read more in @the-independent.com:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Read more in @the-independent.com:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Protect inclusive spaces from gender-critical legal battles, Starmer told
Exclusive: Sir Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson have been urged by more than 140 feminist and LGBT+ organisations to protect trans-inclusive spaces
www.independent.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Breaking: We have brought more than 140 feminist and LGBTQ+ organisations together to urge our politicians to act and protect inclusive spaces from expensive lawfare ⚖️
Read more in @the-independent.com:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Read more in @the-independent.com:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Wow. So it turns out the answer to politics is just being a normal, caring, likeable person – and that's incredibly endearing. Who knew?
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
February 7, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Wow. So it turns out the answer to politics is just being a normal, caring, likeable person – and that's incredibly endearing. Who knew?
A bunch of women and girls get abused and all the discussion is about the political manoeuvrings of the men involved. You have to laugh, don't you?
February 6, 2026 at 1:59 PM
A bunch of women and girls get abused and all the discussion is about the political manoeuvrings of the men involved. You have to laugh, don't you?
Reposted by Jess O'Thomson
While most people are focusing on the high political drama, this shift from the executive to parliament on who determines the national interest is hugely significant.
And it was only possible because the government panicked after that PMQs and the PM's admission.
And it was only possible because the government panicked after that PMQs and the PM's admission.
February 6, 2026 at 12:24 PM
While most people are focusing on the high political drama, this shift from the executive to parliament on who determines the national interest is hugely significant.
And it was only possible because the government panicked after that PMQs and the PM's admission.
And it was only possible because the government panicked after that PMQs and the PM's admission.