Cat Neilan
@catneilan.bsky.social
Whitehall Editor for the Observer. Politics, investigations and taramasalata
As ever, this was a massive team endeavour, with @coramazov.bsky.social, @freyashaw.bsky.social and myself reporting, & @garethceredig.bsky.social @jonholmes.bsky.social and @andrewhunterm.bsky.social on the Naked Week side - listen below if you haven't yet
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
The Naked Week - Series 3 - Parties, polycules, and pardoning - BBC Sounds
This week the team enjoy parties, polycules and pardons.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
As ever, this was a massive team endeavour, with @coramazov.bsky.social, @freyashaw.bsky.social and myself reporting, & @garethceredig.bsky.social @jonholmes.bsky.social and @andrewhunterm.bsky.social on the Naked Week side - listen below if you haven't yet
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I'll leave the last word to Barry Toon, who sits on Birmingham's exempt accommodation forum.
According to him, this delay means “literally billions will have been paid out to provide poor housing, while homelessness increases”
According to him, this delay means “literally billions will have been paid out to provide poor housing, while homelessness increases”
December 6, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I'll leave the last word to Barry Toon, who sits on Birmingham's exempt accommodation forum.
According to him, this delay means “literally billions will have been paid out to provide poor housing, while homelessness increases”
According to him, this delay means “literally billions will have been paid out to provide poor housing, while homelessness increases”
Legislation was actually passed in 2023, giving LAs greater powers to tackle rogue agents. It's been gathering dust ever since.
MHCLG told us implementation will begin in January - but it won't be complete until 2027
MHCLG told us implementation will begin in January - but it won't be complete until 2027
December 6, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Legislation was actually passed in 2023, giving LAs greater powers to tackle rogue agents. It's been gathering dust ever since.
MHCLG told us implementation will begin in January - but it won't be complete until 2027
MHCLG told us implementation will begin in January - but it won't be complete until 2027
It's also failing all of us. Rents can be charged at astronomical levels - av £300 a week for a grotty room. Internal estimates seen by @theobserveruk.bsky.social put Birmingham's annual spend at £400m.
And who pays? Partly the local authority, but a large chunk comes from central government.
And who pays? Partly the local authority, but a large chunk comes from central government.
December 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
It's also failing all of us. Rents can be charged at astronomical levels - av £300 a week for a grotty room. Internal estimates seen by @theobserveruk.bsky.social put Birmingham's annual spend at £400m.
And who pays? Partly the local authority, but a large chunk comes from central government.
And who pays? Partly the local authority, but a large chunk comes from central government.
But it also became clear that there was no interest in understanding the needs of 'Mohammed', who told agents he had alcohol issues without response.
Experts, outreach workers and residents all corroborated what we found - that essentially the system is failing those who need help
Experts, outreach workers and residents all corroborated what we found - that essentially the system is failing those who need help
December 6, 2025 at 11:29 AM
But it also became clear that there was no interest in understanding the needs of 'Mohammed', who told agents he had alcohol issues without response.
Experts, outreach workers and residents all corroborated what we found - that essentially the system is failing those who need help
Experts, outreach workers and residents all corroborated what we found - that essentially the system is failing those who need help
The response for the women-only unit is particularly worrying given previous reports of attacks, and in some cases murders, of women.
This is something @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social and others have long warned about. Seems as though very little has changed
This is something @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social and others have long warned about. Seems as though very little has changed
December 6, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The response for the women-only unit is particularly worrying given previous reports of attacks, and in some cases murders, of women.
This is something @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social and others have long warned about. Seems as though very little has changed
This is something @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social and others have long warned about. Seems as though very little has changed
We wanted to know what happens when a vulnerable person needs a room.
When we went to agents - some working for huge providers - we found none of the expected checks being carried out. In one case a women-only unit was offered to a man.
The only qu regularly asked was - are you on benefits?
When we went to agents - some working for huge providers - we found none of the expected checks being carried out. In one case a women-only unit was offered to a man.
The only qu regularly asked was - are you on benefits?
December 6, 2025 at 11:26 AM
We wanted to know what happens when a vulnerable person needs a room.
When we went to agents - some working for huge providers - we found none of the expected checks being carried out. In one case a women-only unit was offered to a man.
The only qu regularly asked was - are you on benefits?
When we went to agents - some working for huge providers - we found none of the expected checks being carried out. In one case a women-only unit was offered to a man.
The only qu regularly asked was - are you on benefits?
Two fabs. They really deserve them
December 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Two fabs. They really deserve them
Hosking, damn autocorrect
November 26, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Hosking, damn autocorrect
We already know that Reform are thinking about a US style approach to govt in which roles are not necessarily filled by elected representatives... There could be some challenging conflicts of interests if they go down this road
November 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
We already know that Reform are thinking about a US style approach to govt in which roles are not necessarily filled by elected representatives... There could be some challenging conflicts of interests if they go down this road