Simon Hawthorn
@simon.insanity.tube
Public transport major infrastructure sponsor (for my sins), mountain walker and lapsed archer, ex-charity director, Autistic & ADHD. Unreformed kayaker. Atypical podcaster. Democracy author. Might try and do some more travel soon! He/They 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
He thinks he's a rat
December 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
He thinks he's a rat
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Minister defends 'pragmatic' U-turn on workers' rights.
It was a manifesto pledge
Why no 'pragmatic' U-turn' on nationalising water, energy, rail rolling stock companies and freight; ending privatisation of the NHS and social care; taxing the super rich?
It was a manifesto pledge
Why no 'pragmatic' U-turn' on nationalising water, energy, rail rolling stock companies and freight; ending privatisation of the NHS and social care; taxing the super rich?
Minister defends 'pragmatic' U-turn on workers' rights
Bridget Phillipson told the BBC the climbdown would enable wider benefits to be delivered quickly.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Minister defends 'pragmatic' U-turn on workers' rights.
It was a manifesto pledge
Why no 'pragmatic' U-turn' on nationalising water, energy, rail rolling stock companies and freight; ending privatisation of the NHS and social care; taxing the super rich?
It was a manifesto pledge
Why no 'pragmatic' U-turn' on nationalising water, energy, rail rolling stock companies and freight; ending privatisation of the NHS and social care; taxing the super rich?
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants - and how I built a dashboard to see through it
I wanted a dinner recommendation and got a research agenda instead. Using 13000+ restaurants, I rebuild its ratings with machine learning and map how algorithmic visibility actually distributes power.
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:53 AM
I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Video clip of Natasha Devon raising concerns about Simon Wessely being involved in the government’s ADHD review.
She says it feels like a foregone conclusion because Wessely has already made comments about young people “overdiagnosing” their own mental health.
She says it feels like a foregone conclusion because Wessely has already made comments about young people “overdiagnosing” their own mental health.
December 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Video clip of Natasha Devon raising concerns about Simon Wessely being involved in the government’s ADHD review.
She says it feels like a foregone conclusion because Wessely has already made comments about young people “overdiagnosing” their own mental health.
She says it feels like a foregone conclusion because Wessely has already made comments about young people “overdiagnosing” their own mental health.
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
So Deutsche Bahn is finally, after all these years waiting, going TO RUN TRAINS FROM GERMANY TO LONDON! #CrossChannelRail
a man in a suit and tie is standing in a doorway
Alt: Mr Bean in a suit and tie is standing in a doorway looking shocked
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:43 PM
So Deutsche Bahn is finally, after all these years waiting, going TO RUN TRAINS FROM GERMANY TO LONDON! #CrossChannelRail
Been asked to review a report that is... Well it's not great. So I am breaking out pedantry brain and going so far as to leave comments on the Latin root of certain words.
Yes. I am in that sort of mood.
Yes. I am in that sort of mood.
December 4, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Been asked to review a report that is... Well it's not great. So I am breaking out pedantry brain and going so far as to leave comments on the Latin root of certain words.
Yes. I am in that sort of mood.
Yes. I am in that sort of mood.
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
The NHS: "Health sec, there is too much demand for autism, ADHD and mental health services, the waiting lists are too long, we need investment!"
Wes Streeting: "Hearing you loud and clear! Let's have a review into how we can stop people accessing those services to cut the load :3"
Wes Streeting: "Hearing you loud and clear! Let's have a review into how we can stop people accessing those services to cut the load :3"
December 4, 2025 at 8:58 AM
The NHS: "Health sec, there is too much demand for autism, ADHD and mental health services, the waiting lists are too long, we need investment!"
Wes Streeting: "Hearing you loud and clear! Let's have a review into how we can stop people accessing those services to cut the load :3"
Wes Streeting: "Hearing you loud and clear! Let's have a review into how we can stop people accessing those services to cut the load :3"
Did a 50 minute talk on the history of disability in the UK for work. First comment: "Have you considered doing a podcast on this stuff".
a stuffed monkey is wearing a green shirt and overalls and making a surprised face .
Alt: a stuffed monkey is wearing a green shirt and overalls and making a surprised face .
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Did a 50 minute talk on the history of disability in the UK for work. First comment: "Have you considered doing a podcast on this stuff".
Ok, so, train themes for a moment. These are due to leave the SWR network this month. Pretty sure I've ridden more 455s in the last three weeks than the last six months.
Still. Hello from 2D63 and a free coffee because apparently it's my day.
Still. Hello from 2D63 and a free coffee because apparently it's my day.
December 2, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Ok, so, train themes for a moment. These are due to leave the SWR network this month. Pretty sure I've ridden more 455s in the last three weeks than the last six months.
Still. Hello from 2D63 and a free coffee because apparently it's my day.
Still. Hello from 2D63 and a free coffee because apparently it's my day.
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
What do these corporations have in common?
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
November 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
What do these corporations have in common?
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
"We're just men, we're just innocent men"
November 28, 2025 at 8:28 PM
"We're just men, we're just innocent men"
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
Reform UK Party Ltd are a company and yes, they ought to be investigated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reform UK Party Ltd are a company and yes, they ought to be investigated.
Someone keeps asking me for dinner.
November 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Someone keeps asking me for dinner.
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
The public consultation on trans access rights at Highgate Ponds ends on the 25th Nov - so now's the time to give your thoughts if you were intending to! Link in QT
Really worth doing this - these are historically queer spaces and should be protected as such.
There are about 5 main questions (one for each "solution"), then a few basic "about you" questions
There are about 5 main questions (one for each "solution"), then a few basic "about you" questions
The Gender Critical have already inundated this survey with their disgusting views on banning trans people from using the ponds.
Would be a shame if we inundated with trans positive views on not banning trans people.
hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...
Would be a shame if we inundated with trans positive views on not banning trans people.
hampstead-heath-bathing-ponds.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...
November 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The public consultation on trans access rights at Highgate Ponds ends on the 25th Nov - so now's the time to give your thoughts if you were intending to! Link in QT
Today marks 38 years since 31 people lost their lives in the Kings Cross Underground Station fire.
A couple of links from LFB & @timharford.ft.com that help contextualise the disaster and what was changed following that.
www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/londo...
timharford.com/2023/02/caut...
A couple of links from LFB & @timharford.ft.com that help contextualise the disaster and what was changed following that.
www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/londo...
timharford.com/2023/02/caut...
The King's Cross fire, 1987 – fires that changed history
On 18 November 1987, the worst fire in the history of the London Underground claimed the lives of 31 people, including a senior ranked firefighter, and seriously injured many more at King's Cross stat...
www.london-fire.gov.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Today marks 38 years since 31 people lost their lives in the Kings Cross Underground Station fire.
A couple of links from LFB & @timharford.ft.com that help contextualise the disaster and what was changed following that.
www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/londo...
timharford.com/2023/02/caut...
A couple of links from LFB & @timharford.ft.com that help contextualise the disaster and what was changed following that.
www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/londo...
timharford.com/2023/02/caut...
A splash of colour and grey.
November 16, 2025 at 12:55 AM
A splash of colour and grey.
Why the ever flying fuck are people discussing "private finance" ?!
PFI/PPP was one of the greatest cons and most expensive mistakes this country has made! Why would we want to do it again?!
PFI/PPP was one of the greatest cons and most expensive mistakes this country has made! Why would we want to do it again?!
November 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Why the ever flying fuck are people discussing "private finance" ?!
PFI/PPP was one of the greatest cons and most expensive mistakes this country has made! Why would we want to do it again?!
PFI/PPP was one of the greatest cons and most expensive mistakes this country has made! Why would we want to do it again?!
Reposted by Simon Hawthorn
These fights are *normal* to get the help people need.
No one is getting diagnosed without similar horror stories.
So when I hear about over diagnosis?
These are the children I think of:
No one is getting diagnosed without similar horror stories.
So when I hear about over diagnosis?
These are the children I think of:
A family I know just got an autism diagnosis for their son. It came after a four year wait that itself came after years of fighting to even get on the list.
I don't know how the people in charge of this country sleep at night.
I don't know how the people in charge of this country sleep at night.
November 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
These fights are *normal* to get the help people need.
No one is getting diagnosed without similar horror stories.
So when I hear about over diagnosis?
These are the children I think of:
No one is getting diagnosed without similar horror stories.
So when I hear about over diagnosis?
These are the children I think of:
I was part of a group of almost 20 amazing researchers, educators and representation leads from right across the continent and between us, lead by the wonderful Dr Andrea Laczik and Dr Søren Kristensen, we got out 8 chapters covering a lot of important aspects of democracy and vocational education!
www.coe.int/en/web/educa...
Good morning all you wonderful folks who like a bit of learner representation with a sprinkling of European flavour.
Come feast your eyes on what @simon.insanity.tube has written.
Good morning all you wonderful folks who like a bit of learner representation with a sprinkling of European flavour.
Come feast your eyes on what @simon.insanity.tube has written.
www.coe.int
November 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM
I was part of a group of almost 20 amazing researchers, educators and representation leads from right across the continent and between us, lead by the wonderful Dr Andrea Laczik and Dr Søren Kristensen, we got out 8 chapters covering a lot of important aspects of democracy and vocational education!