"Keep your side of the road clean." In a world of dolourous news, all you can do is find one small thing - then try to fix it. And so me and the British Society of Magazine Editors are launching this - to find the next generation of writers AND PAY THEM. Screw you, AI. We still believe in writing.

NEW: More than half of the UK is now cutting back on essentials, as the scale of struggle caused by the cost of living is revealed. New figures from @costoflivingaction.bsky.social even finds that 40% are left with just £100 at the end of each month. I cover for @the-independent.com:

Women are feeling the worst effects of the housing crisis, new analysis by @sheltercharity.bsky.social reveals, especially single mothers. I cover this and talk to one single mother living in 'hidden homelessness' in this exclusive for @the-independent.com:

New: 4.2 million children will still be growing up in poverty by 2029 without action beyond end of two-child UC limit. I cover @jrf-uk.bsky.social UK Poverty 2026 report for @the-independent.com:

Looking to chat to homeowners today that had defective insulation installed under the botched Energy Company Obligation scheme. If this is you, or someone you know, get in touch (DM or email in bio). #journorequest

'Britain’s housing crisis continues to deepen as the number of people sleeping rough has increased by 20 per cent in just one year, a new report has revealed.' I cover Shelter's (@sheltercharity.bsky.social) annual report for @the-independent.com:

Great to see coverage of the 5 week wait in @the-independent.com, highlighting new Citizens Advice analysis of the huge scale of this issue ⚠️800,000 households repaying loans to DWP only needed because of 5 week wait for 1st UC payment ⚠️0.5M+ children growing up in households repaying these loans

Interesting analysis from @chrisgiles.ft.com here

Lime bikes should surely cost by distance, not time, right? Obvious hazard in incentivising cycling as fast as you can, not to mention effective discrimination based on physical ability. Just a commuting thought.

UK must be ready for ‘unprecedented’ heatwaves and flooding, climate experts warn Heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and flooding will all become more regular and intense, experts say. @alb-toth.bsky.social

A staggering report from @resfoundation.bsky.social which I cover for The Independent today. As essentials have risen by as much as 120 per cent, wages on average have gone up just seven. The cost of decades of political inaction www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

“More than 1 in 4 children are living in homes where people are forced to skip or cut back on meals because of financial concerns, as campaigners warn the crisis should ‘shame the government to its core’” I cover this timely report from @trusselluk.bsky.social for The Independent today:

Decided it was finally time to report on a concerning (and annoying) trend

“When the centre closed, I felt like I lost my other home... We won't let them take our community centre.” The great @taracobham.bsky.social and I report for The Independent:

I looked into David Dinsmore’s CV as he takes up a central role in government👇

He's one of Britain's richest men. So why does Asif Aziz's property company keep leasing London gift shops to overseas students based in abandoned offices or flytipped car parks — before vanishing without paying millions of pounds in taxes? www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...

Liz Kendall to DWP committee just now: "I do not agree that the [Pathways to Work green] paper as a whole somehow lacked consultation with disabled people" The green paper (the words 'we are not consulting' appear five times):

Over a million current disability benefit claimants have been left out of Labour’s welfare concessions – and most are children www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

MPs will vote on Tuesday on whether to make PIP harder to claim for a future generation of disabled people. For @the-independent.com I spoke to claimants, experts and a former assessor about the uphill battle many already face to get what they're entitled to. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Have you or someone you know had a troubling experience at a PIP assessment? Would love to hear your story for an article for @the-independent.com. DM or get in touch: [email protected] All information handled sensitively, and anonymously if desired.

Well deserved. A masterclass in how journalism can bring real justice and change people’s lives for the better

Timely and important. The way we talk about welfare matters - it is one of the first steps to tackle stigma and misinformation. Would encourage everyone - politician / journalist or not - to have a read.

Exclusive: A survey of 1000s of health workers finds that the majority believe making rents more affordable would reduce the strain on NHS. Most also say that they often see children with health problems made worse by insecure housing: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

When I was a young hopeful journalist fresh out of university I did a stint of work experience for a local paper. Most of the day was spent going to neighbourhoods where everyone was apparently outraged about something like a new road, or (more worryingly) Travellers etc…

'The millions of benefit claimants affected by Labour’s planned changes to welfare will soon be able to have their say on the controversial package, but with one crucial catch: they aren’t allowed to talk about the cuts.' Me for @the-independent.com

Labour says its welfare reforms are designed to help people into work – MPs might have to take that on faith

I cover crucial analysis of Labour’s welfare cuts today for @the-independent.com. Important work by @neweconomics.bsky.social @benbgeiger.bsky.social

MPs are set to vote on disability benefit cuts without any idea how many of those affected will find work The OBR may not publish its employment impact forecast of the plans until the end of October - after a Commons vote is likely to have taken place By me: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Spread the word! Exciting new fully funded PhD opportunity to research disabled people's lived experiences of benefit reform and the costs of disability. Deadline: 10 April @uofglasgow.bsky.social @uofgussp.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @sgsss.bsky.social @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social

Good to talk to @alb-toth.bsky.social for this piece. Cutting ill & disabled people's incomes doesn't make them more able to return to work, but OBR/HMT orthodoxy & risk aversion means only crude & blunt cuts are being 'scored' as likely savings for DWP www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

“I grew up believing that the Labour Party was the political party for the everyday man or woman and as far as I’m concerned, being disabled doesn’t stop us from being as important as the everyday man or woman who isn’t disabled.”

A serious problem at the moment. Rising rents are rapidly outstripping frozen housing benefits, leaving so many in impossible situations. One man I spoke to, Steve, told me that almost all of his health benefits go towards his private rent now. The layered consequences of inadequacy and inaction:

Is cutting benefits the only way to save money on welfare? My analysis for @the-independent.com

I'll be providing ongoing analysis today as Labour reveals details of its plans for welfare spending. Follow live on the @the-independent.com blog:

I'll be covering Labour's welfare announcement for @the-independent.com today. Any reaction or comment, please do send my way - email in bio

There's been a lot written about PIP over the past few days. For @the-independent.com, I speak to the people who have real experience of the benefit:

Glad I could share the work @publiclawproject.bsky.social are doing to combat this critical issue.

A story I worked on with the great @archieaustin.bsky.social splashes front page of The Independent today.

Fund welfare, not warfare. My piece for @tribunemagazine.bsky.social tribunemag.co.uk/2025/03/guns...

Long story short: we're completely at the whim of mega corporation mini-cops who police completely unfair rules and are able to give disproportionate fines over them. Justice for @rubyflanagan.bsky.social !

Disabled Britons suffering 'unacceptable treatment' at hands of DWP

The country’s biggest civil service union has written to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to express its “disgust” that it has entered into a media partnership with The Sun newspaper, which it accuses of “demonising benefit claimants” bylinetimes.com/2025/01/28/c...

I cover this timely report for @the-independent.com today

‘Urgent’ disability benefit reform backed by Lords after Starmer warns of ‘ruthless’ cuts www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Exclusive for @the-independent.com

My story splashes front page of The Independent today ( @the-independent.com )

Winter fuel payment claims skyrocket after Labour changes – but 50% of pensioners rejected www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Labour gives disability benefit change update – but ‘anxiety’ remains for thousands www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...