Simon Lock
@simonlock.bsky.social
Reporter at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) focusing on transnational corruption. Also very partial to some local/family history.
As someone who needed to take [redacted] number of tests before I passed, and so was fully aware of just how broken the booking system was in practice, any improvement is a good sign. That said, I'm curious as to how this will actually work in practice.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New law to clamp down on driving test bots
The Transport Secretary has announced new measures to tackle the continuing backlog of driving tests.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
As someone who needed to take [redacted] number of tests before I passed, and so was fully aware of just how broken the booking system was in practice, any improvement is a good sign. That said, I'm curious as to how this will actually work in practice.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Simon Lock
Nice work by TBIJ on Carter-Ruck, a scumbag law firm always willing to help organized crime try to shut down journalism, or in this case, criminals to perpetuate a scam. These firms are not acting in the public interest. They should be made to pay restitution to any victims harmed in this case.
NEW: Britain’s fiercest libel firm, Carter-Ruck, acted for the $4bn OneCoin fraud and threatened its critics. Now they’re being prosecuted at the SDT.
Their response? An anonymity order to cover it up. But Carter-Ruck just lost that order - and it's all coming out.
Thread
Their response? An anonymity order to cover it up. But Carter-Ruck just lost that order - and it's all coming out.
Thread
September 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Nice work by TBIJ on Carter-Ruck, a scumbag law firm always willing to help organized crime try to shut down journalism, or in this case, criminals to perpetuate a scam. These firms are not acting in the public interest. They should be made to pay restitution to any victims harmed in this case.
Reposted by Simon Lock
I've been considering whether to do this for months.
Now that Radiohead tickets are being offered for huge mark-ups on resale sites (as per our story today), I think the time has come.
We're going to play a game of Catch The Ticket Tout. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
Now that Radiohead tickets are being offered for huge mark-ups on resale sites (as per our story today), I think the time has come.
We're going to play a game of Catch The Ticket Tout. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
Radiohead condemn ‘exploitative’ touts and resale sites ahead of tour
Band urges fans to avoid secondary sites, where more than 1,000 potentially fraudulent tickets for their shows have been found
www.theguardian.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I've been considering whether to do this for months.
Now that Radiohead tickets are being offered for huge mark-ups on resale sites (as per our story today), I think the time has come.
We're going to play a game of Catch The Ticket Tout. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
Now that Radiohead tickets are being offered for huge mark-ups on resale sites (as per our story today), I think the time has come.
We're going to play a game of Catch The Ticket Tout. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...
The FA has brought 74 charges against Chelsea FC for a wide array of breaches between 2009 and 2022 - when a certain Roman Abramovich was in charge.
Breaches include transactions with intermediaries and third party investments.
Breaches include transactions with intermediaries and third party investments.
September 11, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The FA has brought 74 charges against Chelsea FC for a wide array of breaches between 2009 and 2022 - when a certain Roman Abramovich was in charge.
Breaches include transactions with intermediaries and third party investments.
Breaches include transactions with intermediaries and third party investments.
Reposted by Simon Lock
📢 Mentoring: At @tbij.bsky.social we are launching a mentorship programme open to both staff and freelance journalists interested in gaining experience and guidance on reporting on the family courts. Full details here 👉 tinyurl.com/42xdkk5b
September 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
📢 Mentoring: At @tbij.bsky.social we are launching a mentorship programme open to both staff and freelance journalists interested in gaining experience and guidance on reporting on the family courts. Full details here 👉 tinyurl.com/42xdkk5b
Reminded of that time I submitted an FOI to the FCA for a copy of a contract they entered with a PR firm.
They refused on "commercial sensitivity" grounds, I appealed saying they could redact some bits.
They agreed and sent me this....
They refused on "commercial sensitivity" grounds, I appealed saying they could redact some bits.
They agreed and sent me this....
September 4, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Reminded of that time I submitted an FOI to the FCA for a copy of a contract they entered with a PR firm.
They refused on "commercial sensitivity" grounds, I appealed saying they could redact some bits.
They agreed and sent me this....
They refused on "commercial sensitivity" grounds, I appealed saying they could redact some bits.
They agreed and sent me this....
Someone's really got a Bede in their bonnet about this.
Oh god I’m going to have medievalists popping up in my mentions arguing over when England formed now. I don’t care about your Heptarchy, mate, do one.
September 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Someone's really got a Bede in their bonnet about this.
Just over a year since this excellent piece by @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social and its only become truer.
Vitesse has now had its licence revoked (a decision upheld by the Dutch courts), it can no longer play in professional leagues and may cease to exist.
www.theguardian.com/football/art...
Vitesse has now had its licence revoked (a decision upheld by the Dutch courts), it can no longer play in professional leagues and may cease to exist.
www.theguardian.com/football/art...
Geopolitics comes to Vitesse: how ‘Chelsea B’ were swallowed by Abramovich associates | Jacob Steinberg
Fans of the Eredivisie club hoped takeovers would transform their fortunes, but instead they face an existential threat to their future
www.theguardian.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Just over a year since this excellent piece by @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social and its only become truer.
Vitesse has now had its licence revoked (a decision upheld by the Dutch courts), it can no longer play in professional leagues and may cease to exist.
www.theguardian.com/football/art...
Vitesse has now had its licence revoked (a decision upheld by the Dutch courts), it can no longer play in professional leagues and may cease to exist.
www.theguardian.com/football/art...
Reposted by Simon Lock
The original story, a 5,000 word deep dive on the "most feared" libel firm in the UK is here: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023...
Anyway, if you like the work, become a member today – TBIJ relies on donations and even small amounts go a long way: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/support-us
Anyway, if you like the work, become a member today – TBIJ relies on donations and even small amounts go a long way: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/support-us
Britain’s fiercest libel firm can pursue anyone, anywhere
The government is trying to rein in firms like Carter-Ruck. It’s not easy
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The original story, a 5,000 word deep dive on the "most feared" libel firm in the UK is here: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023...
Anyway, if you like the work, become a member today – TBIJ relies on donations and even small amounts go a long way: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/support-us
Anyway, if you like the work, become a member today – TBIJ relies on donations and even small amounts go a long way: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/support-us
Vile firm reaps what it sows.
Interesting update from SRA which comes off the back of Ed's mammoth piece on Carter Ruck back in 2023....
Interesting update from SRA which comes off the back of Ed's mammoth piece on Carter Ruck back in 2023....
NEW: The legal regulator has announced that it is prosecuting a senior lawyer at libel firm Carter-Ruck for an “improper” threat to sue.
The complaint to the regulator was filed after our @tbij.bsky.social & @economist.com longread on the firm.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
The complaint to the regulator was filed after our @tbij.bsky.social & @economist.com longread on the firm.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Carter-Ruck partner prosecuted for ‘improper’ threat to sue
Claire Gill understood to be facing tribunal over letter attempting to silence victim of a huge fraud scheme, as reported by TBIJ
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
August 6, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Vile firm reaps what it sows.
Interesting update from SRA which comes off the back of Ed's mammoth piece on Carter Ruck back in 2023....
Interesting update from SRA which comes off the back of Ed's mammoth piece on Carter Ruck back in 2023....
Reposted by Simon Lock
not a violin in the world small enough
August 6, 2025 at 2:07 PM
not a violin in the world small enough
Reposted by Simon Lock
NEW: Fake QR codes that trick people into handing over their card details have swept through public parking sites in the UK
John is one of the hundreds of people who’ve been targeted by one of these so-called “quishing” scams (footage from @itvnews.bsky.social)
John is one of the hundreds of people who’ve been targeted by one of these so-called “quishing” scams (footage from @itvnews.bsky.social)
June 27, 2025 at 7:14 AM
NEW: Fake QR codes that trick people into handing over their card details have swept through public parking sites in the UK
John is one of the hundreds of people who’ve been targeted by one of these so-called “quishing” scams (footage from @itvnews.bsky.social)
John is one of the hundreds of people who’ve been targeted by one of these so-called “quishing” scams (footage from @itvnews.bsky.social)
Latest investigation from my esteemed colleague @edsiddons.bsky.social - give it a read...
NEW: Queen Elizabeth’s private solicitor spent eight years helping to manage the offshore wealth of an alleged war criminal, Rifaat Al-Assad, the "butcher of Hama" and uncle of Bashar.
Via @tbij.bsky.social & @theguardian.com
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Via @tbij.bsky.social & @theguardian.com
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
Queen’s lawyer helped manage millions for Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of…
Mark Bridges worked for ‘butcher of Hama’ while advising the British monarch
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
April 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Latest investigation from my esteemed colleague @edsiddons.bsky.social - give it a read...
Kakistocracy manifest.
'A Catastrophic Blow' As US Shuts Unit Investigating War Crimes In Ukraine www.rferl.org/a/yale-ukrai...
Exclusive: 'A Catastrophic Blow' As US Shuts Unit Investigating War Crimes In Ukraine
The US State Department has delivered “a catastrophic blow” to efforts to document Russian war crimes, says the head of a Yale University investigative team that will close down after losing its fundi...
www.rferl.org
March 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Kakistocracy manifest.
Reposted by Simon Lock
mRNA vaccines are legit a near-miracle tech, there's one in testing that might be able to cure pancreatic cancer, and this fucking degenerate might take them from us arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Report: mRNA vaccines are in RFK Jr’s crosshairs; funding in question
“Kennedy’s war on vaccines has started,” one researcher said.
arstechnica.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
mRNA vaccines are legit a near-miracle tech, there's one in testing that might be able to cure pancreatic cancer, and this fucking degenerate might take them from us arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Simon Lock
The scenes in the Oval Office today will shame the US for decades. They’ll never be forgotten.
A world leader, fighting for his country against the 21st century’s Nazis, came to the US and was attacked & abused by a gangster regime siding with the fascist invaders.
A historic disgrace.
A world leader, fighting for his country against the 21st century’s Nazis, came to the US and was attacked & abused by a gangster regime siding with the fascist invaders.
A historic disgrace.
February 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The scenes in the Oval Office today will shame the US for decades. They’ll never be forgotten.
A world leader, fighting for his country against the 21st century’s Nazis, came to the US and was attacked & abused by a gangster regime siding with the fascist invaders.
A historic disgrace.
A world leader, fighting for his country against the 21st century’s Nazis, came to the US and was attacked & abused by a gangster regime siding with the fascist invaders.
A historic disgrace.
Oh look, an even newer low.
"There was clearly enormous pressure on us from the US government to allow the Tate brothers to leave Romanian territory," sources close to the investigation told the BBC. bsky.app/profile/mirc...
February 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Oh look, an even newer low.
Every day they reach new lows...
👀 Jesus! The Deputy Secretary of Defense nominee, Feinberg, is not willing to say that russia invaded UKR. America has fallen and is now a vassal state of russia... RIP 🪦
February 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Every day they reach new lows...
Not even asteroids want anything to do with us
Chance of giant asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 falls to 0.0017%
Chance of giant asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 falls to 0.0017%
Asteroid 2024 YR4 had reached a 3.1% likelihood of impact but further data has rendered it negligible
It was a discovery that lead to panic-inducing headlines: a giant asteroid found to be hurtling towards Earth that, while unlikely to wipe out life,…
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Not even asteroids want anything to do with us
There must be one of those named adages already that anyone who describes themselves as "high IQ" (or views it as some positive attribute in e.g. leadership) is invariably a fucking moron.
I've literally never heard a legitimately clever person go on about their IQ or which uni they went to
February 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
There must be one of those named adages already that anyone who describes themselves as "high IQ" (or views it as some positive attribute in e.g. leadership) is invariably a fucking moron.
Reposted by Simon Lock
Powerful. Tomorrow’s front page of the most influential weekly publication in Germany.
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
February 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Powerful. Tomorrow’s front page of the most influential weekly publication in Germany.
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
A betrayal as total as it is awful.
February 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM
A betrayal as total as it is awful.
Reposted by Simon Lock
Vance’s grotesqueness aside, the whole thing is one of the most horrific acts of betrayal ever committed by a democratic state against another. Just a moral abomination and a permanent stain on everyone who supports it
February 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Vance’s grotesqueness aside, the whole thing is one of the most horrific acts of betrayal ever committed by a democratic state against another. Just a moral abomination and a permanent stain on everyone who supports it
Richard I with a Top 6 finish? He should thank his lucky stars he got a cool nickname to make up for his abysmal ability to actually govern...
Who are the most popular kings and queens since 1066?
1. Elizabeth II: +74 net score
2. Victoria: +50
3. George VI: +40
4. Elizabeth I: +36
5. George V: +30
6. Richard the Lionheart: +29
7. Charles III: +27
8. Edward VII: +14
Full list in chart 👇
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
1. Elizabeth II: +74 net score
2. Victoria: +50
3. George VI: +40
4. Elizabeth I: +36
5. George V: +30
6. Richard the Lionheart: +29
7. Charles III: +27
8. Edward VII: +14
Full list in chart 👇
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
February 7, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Richard I with a Top 6 finish? He should thank his lucky stars he got a cool nickname to make up for his abysmal ability to actually govern...