Housing & society correspondent @theipaper Orwell Prize finalist 2023, 24 & 25. Author of TENANTS & We Were Promised The Moon. Please send me your stories!
Joined July 2011
- Tweets 8,021
- Following 6,465
- Followers 30,855
- Likes 22,642
184 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
8 Dec 2025
Housing Britain, my new series for @BBCRadio4, is now available to listen to
Part 1 is all about housebuilding. Why is it so difficult to build new homes? Is the environment - newts and bats - in the way? Will Labour meet its target?
Listen here đź“»
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002n7l…
9
34
96
38,218
Vicky Spratt retweeted
EXC: Andy Burnham is being urged by Labour MPs to abandon a manifesto commitment on the state pension triple lock to free up cash for defence and young people.
inews.co.uk/news/kill-state-…
From @connie_dimsdale @cazjwheeler and me
9
8
61
8,300
Vicky Spratt retweeted
Horrifying report revealing that children with SEND are left sobbing in isolation rooms for hours. It’s a harrowing one but well worth a read
Jun 12
Exclusive investigation finds isolation rooms now used in 90% of secondary schools, with disabled children worst affected and some developing suicidal thoughts
đź”´ Keith Cooper reports
Read more: trib.al/ltPTXA9
3
20
20
6,743
Vicky Spratt retweeted
Jun 12
Whilst visiting the Netherlands to study the Dutch system which has delivered the lowest youth unemployment in Europe, Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden announced that young people will now go to specialist youth hubs instead of job centres for support
Read about this intervention @theipaper
inews.co.uk/news/go-football…
5
5
1,737
Jun 12
As the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire approaches, @PeteApps has interviewed Ed Daffarn, a former resident and survivor of the tragedy.
Ed warned over and over that a disaster was about to happen, but was ignored. Some of his comments here about ongoing interactions with the government are...damning
insidehousing.co.uk/insight/…
1
47
65
3,605
Vicky Spratt retweeted
Jun 11
I had the privilege of serving as John Healey’s PPS in opposition back in 2015/16.
He is a man of deep principle and has been an outstanding Defence Secretary.
I’m saddened that he felt he had no choice but to leave government.
31
19
226
86,776
Jun 11
While on a visit to the Netherlands, Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden addressed John Healey's resignation, saying he has "enormous respect" for the now-former Defence Sec.
McFadden then said he is sure that the PM is "both able to make changes and strongly committed to the defence of the country" based on what he has seen.
1
1
1,321
Jun 10
Crucial reporting from Anoosh
If you want to understand the breakdown of Britain’s political status quo, look at housing
Jun 10
Inside the HMO crisis
The towns and villages of Wigan and Makerfield are the epicentre of Serco Britain, with multiple HMO hotspots. Wigan had some of the first asylum hotels, and now hundreds of HMOs. And the issue is coming up "all the time" for the Labour Party on the campaign trail, Anoosh Chakelian has been told
Don't miss her cover story for this week's @NewStatesman
newstatesman.com/cover-story…
3
11
44
18,294
Vicky Spratt retweeted
Jun 10
A slightly different way to look at fertility from today's ONS release.
Women born from 1995 onwards have been having drastically fewer children by the age of 30. Will they catch up in their 30s?
26
35
182
29,121
Jun 10
Left and right agree that stamp duty needs reform...but, buyer beware...
My @theipaper analysis of the Housing, Communities and Local Government select committee's timely call for change via chair @FloEshalomi featuring market expert Neal Hudson and @BritishProgress
inews.co.uk/news/scrapping-s…
2
3
9
2,638
Jun 9
What happens at a Youth Guarantee jobs fair?
I went to Boxpark in Camden with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and, crucially, dozens of young people looking for work to find out….
Young people attending with their work coaches said it was good to see employers putting effort in
And McFadden explained to me why there will be no “high noon moment” on welfare reform as he tries to facilitate a different approach to youth Unemloyment
This week’s newsletter @theipaper
inews.co.uk/news/in-camden-a…
1
1
2
1,365
Vicky Spratt retweeted
I’m pleased this additional investment has been secured from the Government - it’s vital the Lancaster West residents do not suffer further delays.
But just as important is the additional scrutiny that will come with the money. It’s essential trust and transparency is restored with residents - and I’ll keep holding RBKC to account for that, now alongside additional external support from the government too.
Jun 8
This Sunday marks 9 years since the Grenfell Tower fire. Residents on the surrounding estate are still “living on a building site” with some suffering from PTSD
Local mp @josephpowell has spoken to me after Housing Secretary @SteveReedMP put up ÂŁ8m to get refurbishment works over the line
inews.co.uk/news/we-watched-…
4
15
2,040
Jun 8
This Sunday marks 9 years since the Grenfell Tower fire. Residents on the surrounding estate are still “living on a building site” with some suffering from PTSD
Local mp @josephpowell has spoken to me after Housing Secretary @SteveReedMP put up ÂŁ8m to get refurbishment works over the line
inews.co.uk/news/we-watched-…
11
14
4,247
Jun 8
Did chanting “build baby build” while wearing red baseball caps cause Labour to lose control of Enfield Council? Local people in Crews Hill - even Labour voters - tell me they found it concerning
inews.co.uk/news/housing/pan…
4
21
39
9,413
Vicky Spratt retweeted
Jun 7
Opinion | We can no longer afford the triple lock. But good luck trying to say it
🖋️ by Vicky Spratt
Read more: trib.al/GUTtlTY
8
3
5
2,003
Jun 7
I pointed out that the state pension - with a triple lock to ensure it rises year on year - is the most expensive state benefit. It is also not means tested. My inboxes exploded - the emails were wild and explain why politicians are reluctant to touch this issue @theipaper
inews.co.uk/opinion/criticis…
104
28
166
22,393
Vicky Spratt retweeted
Jun 5
It's worth thinking about the consequences of this for the housing ladder.
Whereas previous generations could ride the equity train, young flat owners wanting to move somewhere bigger basically have to start again saving for another deposit
My column from February: thetimes.com/comment/columni…
Jun 5
Why half of London's small flats sell at a loss as the crash spreads trib.al/JsW9kmN
13
26
98
19,923
Jun 4
There we go - most explicit Burnham has been yet about running in a leadership contest if there is one which, he says, he thinks there might be
Not sure the PLP wants a contest but they are sort of, almost seeing one play out anyway…
“Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it”
Labour’s Andy Burnham confirms that if elected, he would run against Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a Labour leadership contest
#bbcqt
1
1
8
2,694