Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 21/09/2026This is going to be like the "World Series" of baseball isn't it. 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 21/09/2026So in other words, law firms are essentially now in charge of marking their own homework - and no one else can check it. Forget toothless, the SRA has essentially had its entire lower jaw removed. www.law360.com/articles/252...law360.comBREAKING: Carter-Ruck Wins Battle To Shield Privileged Docs From SRA Probes - Law360 UKThe Solicitors Regulation Authority cannot compel law firms to disclose documents protected by clients' legal professional privilege during misconduct investigations, a London judge ruled Monday, pote... 000
Reposted by Simon LockJim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 18/09/2026my brilliant colleague @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the threat from Elon Musk’s X platform www.ft.com/content/f270... 6428071164
Reposted by Simon LockRob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Chelsea in Honest deal shock. 2214
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I worked on the original investigation with @byrobdavies.bsky.social and others. I think it's hard to understate just how far the rot spreads. Abramovich took over Chelsea in July 2003. The first football agreements routed offshore via BVI companies (for "scouting services") began within 4 months! 186
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 04/07/2026Pitch: Instead of penalties (arbitrary, overly tense etc), if the scores are still level at 90 minutes, why not introduce... a second ball? #MultiBall 100
Reposted by Simon LockAlex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 03/07/2026“Scottish Water is absolutely something that UK gov't could learn from. It was established quite deliberately as a public corporation. There are upsides and downsides to that - it's not beyond criticism. But compared to privatised English companies, it has been a stable model that's performed well.” 721466
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 02/06/2026en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteri...en.wikipedia.orgBetteridge's law of headlines - Wikipedia 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 01/06/2026Latest from myself at TBIJ, working alongside the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC): Digital payments giant Wise is under investigation by prosecutors in Belgium over concerns its accounts have been used by criminals to launder the proceeds of fraud, corruption and drug trafficking.thebureauinvestigates.comMoney transfer giant Wise investigated for half a billion in…Prosecutors looking into whether digital finance firm has been used to launder proceeds of fraud, corruption and drug trafficking 101
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 21/04/2026So Amy Winehouse's father's lawyers, (Russells): - Made false claims that her friends stole Amy's possessions to sell at auction - "Bombarded" (judges words) the same friends with multiple highly aggressive legal letters in quick succession. Any consequences? www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/most-ag...lawgazette.co.uk'Most aggressive lawyers in London' in Winehouse auction litigationSinger's father instructed his solicitors to 'bombard the defendants with aggressive letters and the threat of litigation'. 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Lightweight. Personally I yearn for the pre-money age. What was wrong with bartering with cows. Those were the days (I presume). 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 10/02/2026Did not realise this was now the standard measurement for ancient cities. 131
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Which of his ten thousand on-the-side jobs will he work in the particular office for though. 032
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 08/02/2026Really need a 90s/00s obscure-sports-underdog movie but for curling. 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 07/02/2026NEW from TBIJ w/ BBC - Mandelson recommended private villa to Epstein, less than a month after the latter's house arrest finished. He said the house offered "beautiful suites" and “privacy with accompanying rooms for your ‘guests’”: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...thebureauinvestigates.comMandelson emailed Epstein suggesting private villa ‘for your “guests”’Redacted email deciphered by TBIJ shows former politician suggesting holiday home for convicted sex offender 142
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 20/01/2026Impeccable timing that YouTube has now started pitching "Visit the USA" adverts at me. I'm good thanks. 100
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 06/01/2026I mean the test system is so broken that it effectively is over 6 months before you can get a test anyway.... BBC News - Learner drivers may have to wait six months before taking test www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukLearner drivers may have to wait six months before taking testA minimum learning period of up to six months could be introduced for learner drivers 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 03/01/2026"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on its head" 011
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 04/12/2025Lo and behold the company in question is based in Belize. I feel like even by the incredibly low standard of offshore secrecy jurisdictions, Belize is just a complete and utter blackhole of transparency. 000
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 12/11/2025As 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...bbc.co.ukNew law to clamp down on driving test botsThe Transport Secretary has announced new measures to tackle the continuing backlog of driving tests. 120
Reposted by Simon LockDrew Sullivan - OCCRP @drewoccrp.bsky.social · 18/09/2025Nice 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. 052
Reposted by Simon LockRob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 12/09/2025I'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...theguardian.comRadiohead condemn ‘exploitative’ touts and resale sites ahead of tourBand urges fans to avoid secondary sites, where more than 1,000 potentially fraudulent tickets for their shows have been found 35025
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 11/09/2025The 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. 221
Reposted by Simon LockHannah Summers @hansummers.bsky.social · 04/09/2025📢 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 047
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 04/09/2025Reminded 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.... 030
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 01/09/2025Someone's really got a Bede in their bonnet about this. 010
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 08/08/2025Just 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...theguardian.comGeopolitics comes to Vitesse: how ‘Chelsea B’ were swallowed by Abramovich associates | Jacob SteinbergFans of the Eredivisie club hoped takeovers would transform their fortunes, but instead they face an existential threat to their future 130
Reposted by Simon LockEd Siddons @edsiddons.bsky.social · 06/08/2025The 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-usthebureauinvestigates.comBritain’s fiercest libel firm can pursue anyone, anywhereThe government is trying to rein in firms like Carter-Ruck. It’s not easy 054
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 06/08/2025Vile 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.... 020
Reposted by Simon LockChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 06/08/2025not a violin in the world small enough 3392
Reposted by Simon LockThe Bureau of Investigative Journalism @tbij.bsky.social · 27/06/2025NEW: 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) 198
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 17/04/2025Latest investigation from my esteemed colleague @edsiddons.bsky.social - give it a read... 031
Reposted by Simon Lockryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 18/03/2025mRNA 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/...arstechnica.comReport: mRNA vaccines are in RFK Jr’s crosshairs; funding in question“Kennedy’s war on vaccines has started,” one researcher said. 21461491919
Reposted by Simon LockNews Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 28/02/2025The 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. 7658161705
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 23/02/2025There 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. 020
Reposted by Simon LockNews Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 21/02/2025Powerful. 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.” 268142774688
Reposted by Simon LockNute @nutedawn.bsky.social · 19/02/2025Vance’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 221014212
Simon Lock @simonlock.bsky.social · 07/02/2025Richard 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... 110