Cat Neilan
@catneilan.bsky.social
Whitehall Editor for the Observer. Politics, investigations and taramasalata
Pinned
‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
observer.co.uk
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people"
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Cat Neilan
Around two thirds of Reform's money has come from overseas | me with @catneilan.bsky.social 📰 observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform’s record £9m crypto donation is just the latest offering from abroad | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Around two thirds of Reform's money has come from overseas | me with @catneilan.bsky.social 📰 observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Cat Neilan
Two thirds of Reform donations come from donors resident overseas or with offshore interests overseas - astonishing story by @catneilan.bsky.social in @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform’s record £9m crypto donation is just the latest offering from abroad | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Two thirds of Reform donations come from donors resident overseas or with offshore interests overseas - astonishing story by @catneilan.bsky.social in @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Cat Neilan
Season finale of the Naked Week out last night— been an absolute pleasure to work on. Investigation from me @catneilan.bsky.social and @freyashaw.bsky.social below — it’s about the scandalous mess that is Supported Exempt Accomm & its massive economic and social costs observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Season finale of the Naked Week out last night— been an absolute pleasure to work on. Investigation from me @catneilan.bsky.social and @freyashaw.bsky.social below — it’s about the scandalous mess that is Supported Exempt Accomm & its massive economic and social costs observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Cat Neilan
None of this is news to us in Birmingham. Good to see it covered on The Naked Week on R4. A comedy slot, but a brief canter through a system that impacts residents, neighbours and the public purse.
The council has done good work, but they lack enforcement powers.
The council has done good work, but they lack enforcement powers.
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people"
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 3:05 PM
None of this is news to us in Birmingham. Good to see it covered on The Naked Week on R4. A comedy slot, but a brief canter through a system that impacts residents, neighbours and the public purse.
The council has done good work, but they lack enforcement powers.
The council has done good work, but they lack enforcement powers.
Reposted by Cat Neilan
The harvesting of public money to exploitative providers to profit from vulnerability and need feels like it's endemic.
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people"
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 11:45 AM
The harvesting of public money to exploitative providers to profit from vulnerability and need feels like it's endemic.
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people"
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 11:24 AM
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people"
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
One minute warning for the final episode of the current series of The Naked Week, and it's a (Christmas) cracker. Fabulous work from our fab investigations team @coramazov.bsky.social and @freyashaw.bsky.social yet again - all will be revealed soon!
December 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
One minute warning for the final episode of the current series of The Naked Week, and it's a (Christmas) cracker. Fabulous work from our fab investigations team @coramazov.bsky.social and @freyashaw.bsky.social yet again - all will be revealed soon!
This is an excellent piece of work by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and the DfS gang
Lobbyist / ex Tory MP Ben Howlett has been done by an undercover sting. As ever, the most revealing thing is how very very cheap it is buy access in British media/politics — and especially how Howlett controls one of the biggest UK pol Twitter accounts!
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
December 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
This is an excellent piece of work by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and the DfS gang
But letting every Tom, Dick and Harry ex-Tory MP join is... a vote winner?
Farage says deal with Tories ‘as they are’ would cost Reform UK votes, as he dismisses claim he’s contemplating electoral pact - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Farage says deal with Tories ‘as they are’ would cost Reform UK votes, as he denies election pact – UK politics live
Reform UK leader says report of an election deal with Conservatives is ‘false’, but suggests only under their current leadership
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
But letting every Tom, Dick and Harry ex-Tory MP join is... a vote winner?
Apparently it was green sauce day
December 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Apparently it was green sauce day
Nigel Farage has registered a three (3) day trip to the US, bankrolled by Bassim Haidar, valued at nearly £55k
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
December 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Nigel Farage has registered a three (3) day trip to the US, bankrolled by Bassim Haidar, valued at nearly £55k
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
Nothing about the nature of the speaking engagement or charity event that he was attending....
Reposted by Cat Neilan
"Pro-Kremlin posts attacked BBC after Panorama scandal"
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
@catneilan.bsky.social
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
@catneilan.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
"Pro-Kremlin posts attacked BBC after Panorama scandal"
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
@catneilan.bsky.social
@theobserveruk.bsky.social
@catneilan.bsky.social
Reposted by Cat Neilan
This weeks joint BBC Naked Week and Observer investigation with @catneilan.bsky.social and @freyashaw.bsky.social. Read/Listen below.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Pro-Kremlin posts attacked BBC after Panorama scandal | The Observer
observer.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
This weeks joint BBC Naked Week and Observer investigation with @catneilan.bsky.social and @freyashaw.bsky.social. Read/Listen below.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Farage is pretty rambling (economy doesn't feel like his strong point) but noteworthy comment here
"It's very much our ambition that we would have ppl in ministerial positions who were experts in their areas of expertise...10 energy ministers over 14 years. Not one of them had a clue about energy"
"It's very much our ambition that we would have ppl in ministerial positions who were experts in their areas of expertise...10 energy ministers over 14 years. Not one of them had a clue about energy"
Nigel Farage is holding a post-budget press conference and his sidekick is Zia Yusuf. Yusuf does very much feel like the shadow (shadow) chancellor, rather than Richard Tice, who had been the party’s main voice on economics.
November 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Farage is pretty rambling (economy doesn't feel like his strong point) but noteworthy comment here
"It's very much our ambition that we would have ppl in ministerial positions who were experts in their areas of expertise...10 energy ministers over 14 years. Not one of them had a clue about energy"
"It's very much our ambition that we would have ppl in ministerial positions who were experts in their areas of expertise...10 energy ministers over 14 years. Not one of them had a clue about energy"
Reposted by Cat Neilan
Damning line from the OBR this: "We have assessed that none of the policy measures in this Budget have a sufficiently material impact to justify adjusting our post-measures potential output forecast."
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Damning line from the OBR this: "We have assessed that none of the policy measures in this Budget have a sufficiently material impact to justify adjusting our post-measures potential output forecast."
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
Reposted by Cat Neilan
OBR says lower net migration will hurt overall productivity
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
OBR says lower net migration will hurt overall productivity
Nus Ghani on fire (both in scolding the govt and fashion)
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Nus Ghani on fire (both in scolding the govt and fashion)
"This is not (quite) as chaotic as the Liz Truss Budget" is a bold approach, wonder if they focus grouped that line first
November 26, 2025 at 12:12 PM
"This is not (quite) as chaotic as the Liz Truss Budget" is a bold approach, wonder if they focus grouped that line first
Reposted by Cat Neilan
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
Three more ex-pupils at school with Nigel Farage reject ‘banter’ claims
Exclusive: Dulwich college contemporaries ‘rubbish’ Reform UK leader’s suggestion alleged racist taunts not intended to hurt
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
New: Three new ex-pupils come forward, on the record, to say Farage's racism as a teenager was targeted, persistent and nasty. Farage has denied targeting any individuals - but two of the men tell us they recall Farage abusing Peter Ettedgui.
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
w/ Dan Boffey, @drblacklock.bsky.social
I see lots of people claiming this as an exclusive - but @rachelsylvester.bsky.social got the story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social a fortnight ago!
Thousands to lose right to a jury trial as government backs new intermediate court to help tackle the backlog - my story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Thousands to lose the right to trial by jury in drive to fix court logjam | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I see lots of people claiming this as an exclusive - but @rachelsylvester.bsky.social got the story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social a fortnight ago!
Excellent work from @direthoughts.com and team, exposing serious misconduct resulting in a lengthy suspension for these two peers
NEW: Lord Dannatt and Lord David Evans of Watford face suspension of 4mo/5mo respectively from the House of Lords after a parliamentary watchdog ruled they had broken lobbying rules. Reports from the conduct committee follows Guardian investigations into the peers.
w/ @robevansgdn.bsky.social
w/ @robevansgdn.bsky.social
Two peers suspended from House of Lords for breaking lobbying rules
Lord Dannatt and Lord Evans of Watford were filmed breaking rules in undercover footage recorded by Guardian
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Excellent work from @direthoughts.com and team, exposing serious misconduct resulting in a lengthy suspension for these two peers
Reposted by Cat Neilan
Read the latest investigation by @catneilan.bsky.social and I, which reveals that against the advice of experts, defibrillators are often neglected and inaccessible leading to tragic and preventable deaths observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Faulty and inaccessible defibrillators linked to dozens of deaths | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Read the latest investigation by @catneilan.bsky.social and I, which reveals that against the advice of experts, defibrillators are often neglected and inaccessible leading to tragic and preventable deaths observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Following the BBC R4 broadcast of our investigation into Britain's system of defibrillators, you can now read the full deep dive in @theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Following the BBC R4 broadcast of our investigation into Britain's system of defibrillators, you can now read the full deep dive in @theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Another fantastic episode of The Naked Week with @andrewhunterm.bsky.social & @jonholmes.bsky.social
This week, we investigate Britain's patchy defib system & reveal some genuinely startling problems
Much credit to @freyashaw.bsky.social for the FOI heavy lifting
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
This week, we investigate Britain's patchy defib system & reveal some genuinely startling problems
Much credit to @freyashaw.bsky.social for the FOI heavy lifting
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 - The Naked Week: Ep4. Immigration, Espionage, and a game of Guess Who? - Epstein Edition. - BBC Sounds
The Naked Week tackles immigration, espionage and a game of Guess Who? - Epstein Edition.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Another fantastic episode of The Naked Week with @andrewhunterm.bsky.social & @jonholmes.bsky.social
This week, we investigate Britain's patchy defib system & reveal some genuinely startling problems
Much credit to @freyashaw.bsky.social for the FOI heavy lifting
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
This week, we investigate Britain's patchy defib system & reveal some genuinely startling problems
Much credit to @freyashaw.bsky.social for the FOI heavy lifting
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...