Simon Thorne

dad of two, single parent to one | dabbling photographer | plodding runner | film editor

[Fraser Nelson @FraserNelson]

It's not just the exploitation of a tragedy.

JD Vance's picture of Britain - where migrants have led to a crime surge - is the opposite of the truth.

https://t.co/y5El5FUj7v

[Simon Thorne @simonthorne01]

from the cutting room

[Channel 4 Dispatches @C4Dispatches]

The impact of the Iran war and the on-off closure of the Strait of Hormuz have caused chaos in the travel industry this year.

Some airlines have already cancelled flights and are now worried about air fuel supplies.

But what will the impact be on this year’s summer holidays?

[India Willoughby @IndiaWilloughby]

A big FUCK YOU from Marks and Spencer to the anti trans people campaigners. Well done @marksandspencer . I hope other retailers follow the example set by M&S. ✌️💚🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

[Victoria Derbyshire @vicderbyshire]

Latest data on small boat arrivals from Home Office as of 1 May, 2026

1 January 2026 to 30 April 2026 = 6,416 people

That’s 42% down on same period in 2025

https://t.co/6bhdAZy4Gh

[Prof Alice Roberts💙 @theAliceRoberts]

With all that’s going on in the world right now, I feel it’s really important to draw a distinction between ‘religion’ and ‘faith’. I’m not religious, but I have a humanist worldview which prioritises rational thought, empathy and kindness. I know many people of faith who hold similar values.

But organised religion does something more: it attempts to codify, systematise faith. To create 'orthodoxy' vs 'heresy'. It's a brand that can be linked to states and political movements. It can be used to whip up political support, to reinforce in-group loyalty & to *other* different faiths and religious/ethnic groups.

And to justify violence and war. 1/3

[Lindsey Hilsum @lindseyhilsum]

In case you had stopped thinking about #Ukraine

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

Bob Mueller was one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI, transforming the bureau after 9/11 and saving countless lives. But it was his relentless commitment to the rule of law and his unwavering belief in our bedrock values that made him one of the most respected public servants of our time. Michelle and I send our condolences to Bob’s family, and everyone who knew and admired him.

[Jon Favreau @jonfavs]

He’s winding down the war and looking for an off-ramp but will blow up all their power plants unless they open the Strait which we don’t need and will open itself anyway which is why he might send ground troops to the country he already blew off the map.

[Lindsey Hilsum @lindseyhilsum]

The White House staff designing these messages appear not to realise - or care - that real people are being killed in this war. They should spend a little time here in Lebanon living in a tent amongst the displaced families.

[John Sweeney @johnsweeneyroar]

Our hero Paul Conroy has passed away.

The funniest, most beautiful man to be in hell with.

RIP Paul.

[Kit Yates @Kit_Yates_Maths]

Great to see my friend Christina Pagel featured in the THE for her work on tracking Trump's authoritarian actions.
"Scientist behind Trump Action Tracker uses skills in data collection to look for patterns in president’s seemingly scattergun approach"
https://t.co/8ydotP3y7F

[Nobel Peace Center @NobelPeaceOslo]

The #NobelPeacePrize medal.

It measures 6.6 cm in diameter, weighs 196 grams and is struck in gold. On its face, a portrait of Alfred Nobel and on its reverse, three naked men holding around each other’s shoulders as a sign of brotherhood. A design unchanged for 120 years.

Did you know that some Nobel Peace Prize medals have been passed on after the award was given? A well‑known case is Dmitry Muratov’s medal, which was auctioned for over USD 100 million to support refugees from the war in Ukraine.

And the medal displayed at the Nobel Peace Center is actually on loan and originally belonged to Christian Lous Lange, Norway’s first Peace Prize laureate.

But one truth remains. As the Norwegian Nobel Committee states: “Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.”

A medal can change owners, but the title of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot.

[Mark Carney @MarkJCarney]

It was time to build this weekend (with LEGO).

Thanks to Ambassador Harris for the gift. Solidarity with Denmark. 🇨🇦🇩🇰

[Olivia Solon @oliviasolon]

Swedish deputy PM responds to being digitally undressed by Grok

[Anton Gerashchenko @Gerashchenko_en]

Carol of the Bells in Kyiv subway.

Voices of the Embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom came together to perform Shchedryk in the Kyiv metro as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.

Thankful to everyone who stands with us!

[Christopher Head OBE @chrish9070]

#PostOfficeScandal Tonight on @Channel4News with @JackieLongc4 there was an exclusive report by @alextomo & @NanettevdLaan that revealed for the first time a secret contract between @PostOffice and @fujitsu_uk

For years, the Post Office and Fujitsu covered up the bugs in their faulty Horizon computer software, blaming the subpostmasters using it.

Thousands had their lives ruined. Some took their own lives.

Now Channel 4 News has obtained a 2006 contract between the two companies – overlooked despite being uploaded to the Post Office Inquiry’s website – which a forensic accountant who investigated the Horizon scandal has described as “dynamite”.

Featuring @TracyF882 @CastletonLee @WarmingtonRjw @liambyrnemp

The fact Post Office denied remote access was possible until days before the High Court 2nd trial in 2019 when there was a contract that was signed in 2006, shows just how far they were prepared to go to keep this document out of the public domain. For it to come to light almost 20 years after it was first signed is a disgrace. It was not disclosed to the @PostOffInquiry so that witnesses could be cross examined on it.

Now it will be up to @CommonsBTC and its Chair @liambyrnemp to uncover who knew what and when, why it wasn’t disclosed and when Fujitsu are going to start contributing to the colossal financial redress bill estimated to be £1.6 billion. At the moment it is all being carried by the taxpayer.

https://t.co/xoIKSrLgkh

[Channel 4 News @Channel4News]

"It's disgusting, two decades on, we're finding new documents," says wrongly-convicted former subpostmaster Lee Castleton.

He spoke out after Channel 4 News obtained a secret 2006 contract between the Post Office and Fujitsu which, despite decades of denial, shows the organisations were able to centrally alter subpostmaster accounts.

The Post Office said it apologises "unequivocally for the hurt and suffering" it caused "during the Horizon IT Scandal", while Fujitsu said it would not be "appropriate" for it to comment while the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was ongoing.

[alex thomson @alextomo]

EXCLUSIVE : how a contract between Fujitsu and the Post Office blows away decades of their false claims about their notorious computer system…coming up on ⁦@Channel4News⁩ at SIX tonight (not seven).

[ABC News @abcnews]

#BREAKING: At least 16 files reportedly disappeared from the Justice Department's public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public. https://t.co/Y9jZGnhtbW

[Ben Kentish @BenKentish]

This is right up there with the most stupid things I’ve ever heard any politician say. Give your fellow commuters a debilitating virus, add to the pressure on the NHS, put vulnerable people at risk - all because the Leader of the Opposition is “traumatised” by a bit of fabric.