Hannah Fearn
@hannahfearn.bsky.social
Journalist and podcaster. Politics, social affairs and a little bit of Britpop. Once Independent, now independent.
Find me in The i Paper, The New European, Obs, The Lead, Yahoo and on Oh God, What Now? & The Bunker pods
https://muckrack.com/hannah-fearn
Find me in The i Paper, The New European, Obs, The Lead, Yahoo and on Oh God, What Now? & The Bunker pods
https://muckrack.com/hannah-fearn
Pinned
The winners of the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025 are out! Congratulations everyone!! open.substack.com/pub/freelanc...
Freelance Journalism Awards Winners 2025
Time to unveil our judges' selection!
open.substack.com
Holy moly! I didn't get Lily Allen tickets, but...
I did win TWO awards: Best News Story and Best Opinion Writer in the 2025 Freelance Journalism Awards.
Huge thank you to @freelancingfor.bsky.social for organising these and to your lovely judges. I am so honoured and proud to be named this year
I did win TWO awards: Best News Story and Best Opinion Writer in the 2025 Freelance Journalism Awards.
Huge thank you to @freelancingfor.bsky.social for organising these and to your lovely judges. I am so honoured and proud to be named this year
What a stat: 83 per cent of those with £1m or more in CASH savings said they did not believe they were rich.
Well, I believe that I’ve still got time to be a tabloid famous indie pop star.
And both of those statements are false.
apple.news/AvVGEKHdGSoW...
Well, I believe that I’ve still got time to be a tabloid famous indie pop star.
And both of those statements are false.
apple.news/AvVGEKHdGSoW...
What it takes to be well-off in Britain today — The Times and The Sunday Times
What exactly does it take to be rich in Britain today? A six-figure salary, seven-figure cash savings and a mortgage-free home won’t do it. But a bit of luck and a healthy inheritance payout just migh...
apple.news
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
What a stat: 83 per cent of those with £1m or more in CASH savings said they did not believe they were rich.
Well, I believe that I’ve still got time to be a tabloid famous indie pop star.
And both of those statements are false.
apple.news/AvVGEKHdGSoW...
Well, I believe that I’ve still got time to be a tabloid famous indie pop star.
And both of those statements are false.
apple.news/AvVGEKHdGSoW...
In the words of Alf Stewart, he’s a flaming idiot.
Polanski is able to command a room but everyone in Britain deserves much, much better than four of the five current crop of political leaders
Polanski is able to command a room but everyone in Britain deserves much, much better than four of the five current crop of political leaders
Zack Polanski tells the BBC it would be "very tempting" for him to stand in Keir Starmer's seat at the next general election
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
In the words of Alf Stewart, he’s a flaming idiot.
Polanski is able to command a room but everyone in Britain deserves much, much better than four of the five current crop of political leaders
Polanski is able to command a room but everyone in Britain deserves much, much better than four of the five current crop of political leaders
Missed this when it went out earlier this month, but with the Budget now just 48 hours away this seems like a good time to share.
Should we abolish council tax? My short thoughts, as part as a panel of experts for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/opinion/shou...
Should we abolish council tax? My short thoughts, as part as a panel of experts for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/opinion/shou...
Should council tax be abolished? A renter, estate agent and politics expert respond
The tax is seen as outdated and unfair
inews.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Missed this when it went out earlier this month, but with the Budget now just 48 hours away this seems like a good time to share.
Should we abolish council tax? My short thoughts, as part as a panel of experts for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/opinion/shou...
Should we abolish council tax? My short thoughts, as part as a panel of experts for @theipaper.com:
inews.co.uk/opinion/shou...
🎄 MY CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE: TRICKY-TO-BUY-FOR CENTRIST DAD EDITION 🎁
🎙️ We’ve stayed independent for nearly 8 years! And we need YOUR help to stay that way.
📳 SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up as an annual backer and get 20% off : www.patreon.com/posts/144281...
(OK yes yes it’s #BlackFriday)
📳 SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up as an annual backer and get 20% off : www.patreon.com/posts/144281...
(OK yes yes it’s #BlackFriday)
November 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
🎄 MY CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE: TRICKY-TO-BUY-FOR CENTRIST DAD EDITION 🎁
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
Home Office: How dare people say we are acting like the far-right?
Also the Home Office: These far-right graphics look great, let's copy them.
Also the Home Office: These far-right graphics look great, let's copy them.
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Home Office: How dare people say we are acting like the far-right?
Also the Home Office: These far-right graphics look great, let's copy them.
Also the Home Office: These far-right graphics look great, let's copy them.
This should be a much, much bigger story than it is playing as so far. Is it the 'Wales' bit that's distracting? Just because it's a devolved administration is hardly the point. This is a corrupt operator that Reform embraced.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £40,000 while he was an MEP from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This should be a much, much bigger story than it is playing as so far. Is it the 'Wales' bit that's distracting? Just because it's a devolved administration is hardly the point. This is a corrupt operator that Reform embraced.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Read this.
Share it with your friends who still think it's important to be visible on X to remain "part of the discourse".
Share it with your friends who still think it's important to be visible on X to remain "part of the discourse".
this week's newsletter is titled "aren't you tired of feeling insane all the time?" and I think it speaks for itself
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
November 21, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Read this.
Share it with your friends who still think it's important to be visible on X to remain "part of the discourse".
Share it with your friends who still think it's important to be visible on X to remain "part of the discourse".
This is a niche complaint, but as a journalist I find the primary school obsession with fronted adverbials irritating because (even when employed correctly and of the sophistication to gain top marks) they often make a sentence messy and opaque. It’s just not good writing.
November 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
This is a niche complaint, but as a journalist I find the primary school obsession with fronted adverbials irritating because (even when employed correctly and of the sophistication to gain top marks) they often make a sentence messy and opaque. It’s just not good writing.
Narrator: Duncan was *not* going mad. Many people around him had simply lost touch with reality long ago.
I sometimes feel like I am going mad.
Owning a £1.5m home is not normal in London or the South East of England.
Owning a £1.5m home is not normal in London or the South East of England.
November 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Narrator: Duncan was *not* going mad. Many people around him had simply lost touch with reality long ago.
For those who love Escape Routes on @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social, I saw EEVAH last night and they were magnetic. Tiny crowd. Great stuff. New band but just discovered the guitarist used to be in Embrace (DW, they do not sound similar)
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
For those who love Escape Routes on @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social, I saw EEVAH last night and they were magnetic. Tiny crowd. Great stuff. New band but just discovered the guitarist used to be in Embrace (DW, they do not sound similar)
To put another way…. Everybody is in the minus figures.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
Latest party leader net favourability ratings, November 2025
Nigel Farage: -32
Kemi Badenoch: -32
Jeremy Corbyn: -40
Keir Starmer: -54
Zack Polanski: -2 (58% DK)
Ed Davey: -9 (40% DK)
Zarah Sultana: -19 (58% DK)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Nigel Farage: -32
Kemi Badenoch: -32
Jeremy Corbyn: -40
Keir Starmer: -54
Zack Polanski: -2 (58% DK)
Ed Davey: -9 (40% DK)
Zarah Sultana: -19 (58% DK)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM
To put another way…. Everybody is in the minus figures.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
The term omnisbambles was created too soon. Back then we didn’t know what it was describing.
This is an appalling story, but there's something comic about the imagery. Did they think people would just.... not notice? Because of the trees?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Mountain of waste dumped in Oxfordshire field contains rubbish from councils
Evidence of waste from primary schools and local authorities in south-east England points to possible large-scale corruption, expert says
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM
This is an appalling story, but there's something comic about the imagery. Did they think people would just.... not notice? Because of the trees?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Some genuinely good news.
Please let there be a 45-min long interview room unravelling.
Everything out there is horrible; just give us this one thing, Jed.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Please let there be a 45-min long interview room unravelling.
Everything out there is horrible; just give us this one thing, Jed.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
‘The job of a lifetime’: Line of Duty to return for seventh season
The hit BBC crime drama is coming back to screens for the first time since its record-breaking 2021 finale
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Some genuinely good news.
Please let there be a 45-min long interview room unravelling.
Everything out there is horrible; just give us this one thing, Jed.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Please let there be a 45-min long interview room unravelling.
Everything out there is horrible; just give us this one thing, Jed.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
🥳 We’re recording Episode FIVE HUNDRED this week – so let’s have your questions on the theme of birthdays, anniversaries and generally being around for a long time.
🎂 Submit here – free to read: www.patreon.com/posts/its-ep...
🎂 Submit here – free to read: www.patreon.com/posts/its-ep...
November 18, 2025 at 11:52 AM
🥳 We’re recording Episode FIVE HUNDRED this week – so let’s have your questions on the theme of birthdays, anniversaries and generally being around for a long time.
🎂 Submit here – free to read: www.patreon.com/posts/its-ep...
🎂 Submit here – free to read: www.patreon.com/posts/its-ep...
Well well
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Well well
To paraphrase: they know they shouldn’t have included AI answers at the top of search and that it is rapidly devaluing the whole brand, and that other AI tools are better at that job too, but they can’t just remove it because it would be an admission of failure?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Don't blindly trust what AI tells you, Google boss tells BBC
Sundar Pichai candidly acknowledged concerns about inaccurate answers generated by Google's models.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
To paraphrase: they know they shouldn’t have included AI answers at the top of search and that it is rapidly devaluing the whole brand, and that other AI tools are better at that job too, but they can’t just remove it because it would be an admission of failure?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
...And in terms of asylum applications per 10,000 people the UK is lower down, at 16 per 10,000 people in 2024...
November 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
...And in terms of asylum applications per 10,000 people the UK is lower down, at 16 per 10,000 people in 2024...
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
I really resent Xmas music in cafes on 17 November, which make me want to order mulled wine and give up work for the rest of the year. I can't possibly channel those vibes yet.
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I really resent Xmas music in cafes on 17 November, which make me want to order mulled wine and give up work for the rest of the year. I can't possibly channel those vibes yet.
My latest essay for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is out now
Sexual harassment and abuse of female entrepreneurs is off the scale. What if a big part of the reason for slow growth is the way women are treated at work and in business?
www.thenewworld.co.uk/hannah-fearn...
Sexual harassment and abuse of female entrepreneurs is off the scale. What if a big part of the reason for slow growth is the way women are treated at work and in business?
www.thenewworld.co.uk/hannah-fearn...
Keeping misogyny in business
Women in the world of business face appalling levels of abuse – a work culture that shuts out half of the potential workforce is doing immense social and economic damage
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM
My latest essay for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is out now
Sexual harassment and abuse of female entrepreneurs is off the scale. What if a big part of the reason for slow growth is the way women are treated at work and in business?
www.thenewworld.co.uk/hannah-fearn...
Sexual harassment and abuse of female entrepreneurs is off the scale. What if a big part of the reason for slow growth is the way women are treated at work and in business?
www.thenewworld.co.uk/hannah-fearn...
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
If a Prime Minister is brought down by being too cruel on asylum policy - which is not the most likely option but feels plausible right now, which is new - what does that do the debate? Is it too much to hope that draws some kind of line?
November 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
If a Prime Minister is brought down by being too cruel on asylum policy - which is not the most likely option but feels plausible right now, which is new - what does that do the debate? Is it too much to hope that draws some kind of line?
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
The first rule of communications is clarity 😉
November 16, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The first rule of communications is clarity 😉
Reposted by Hannah Fearn
The first Thatcher govt had a majority of just 43.
Thatcher, like Starmer, was not a natural orator, but she recognised that the battle of ideas mattered.
She saw it as part of her job to go out & win the argument: to shape public opinion, not just react to it.
That's almost wholly missing today.
Thatcher, like Starmer, was not a natural orator, but she recognised that the battle of ideas mattered.
She saw it as part of her job to go out & win the argument: to shape public opinion, not just react to it.
That's almost wholly missing today.
Has a government with a large majority ever *tried* less to impose itself and change the terms of debate?
November 15, 2025 at 11:16 AM
The first Thatcher govt had a majority of just 43.
Thatcher, like Starmer, was not a natural orator, but she recognised that the battle of ideas mattered.
She saw it as part of her job to go out & win the argument: to shape public opinion, not just react to it.
That's almost wholly missing today.
Thatcher, like Starmer, was not a natural orator, but she recognised that the battle of ideas mattered.
She saw it as part of her job to go out & win the argument: to shape public opinion, not just react to it.
That's almost wholly missing today.