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Cat Neilan

@catneilan.bsky.social
32K followers 1.1K following 1.5K posts

Whitehall Editor for the Observer & chief investigative reporter for BBC R4's The Naked Week. Politics, investigations and taramasalata

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Reposted by Cat Neilan
The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Burnham’s Labour finds its pulse, but Unite row lingers Delegates rallied around the Labour leader at the party conference on Sunday. Meanwhile the Unite general secretary hit back at Len McCluskey’s claims of ‘innuendoes and smears’ ✍️ @catneilan.bsky.social
observer.co.uk
Burnham’s Labour finds its pulse, but Unite row lingers
Delegates rallied around the Labour leader at the party conference on Sunday. Meanwhile the Unite general secretary hit back at Len McCluskey’s claims of ‘innuendoes and smears’
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Labour conference vibe: Hopey-changey, with a side order of indie/synth pop
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
At Reform party conference a few weeks ago, I caught wind of a fascinating member of the team who "keeps [the top donors] happy". Katie Lewis has a super low profile - and as I started asking around about her, posts were deleted or edited to keep it that way observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
‘Nigel loved her’: the mystery woman looking after Reform...
Former Cameo executive Katie Lewis has flown under the radar since working with the party’s crypto donors, with online posts that mention her name being swiftly deleted
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Chris Philp's new job title just dropped
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
6. As far as we can see, the rescuer was okay - though this is bordering on attempted murder. RNLI then headed towards the Solent, AIS off and chased by the far-right. Authorities in Portsmouth likely were warned that people would be offloaded and processed at Gosport, so Thomas rallied activists.
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
5. After around 30 hours at sea, the dinghy was intercepted by the RNLI and those on board transferred to two lifeboats. Two lifeboat personnel tried to secure the empty dinghy. Thomas yelled abuse and knifed the dinghy to deflate it - with a rescuer still on board.
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Worrying scenes in the Channel today, for all interested in asylum policy and maritime tactics. A small boat from Normandy spent more than 30 hours at sea. Those on board now on their 2nd rescue vessel as Border Force forced to play cat and mouse with far-right activists who have their own boat.
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Miles Ellingham @milesellingham.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I wanted to write about the end of world but I didn’t know how. So @observeruk.bsky.social sent me Iceland to meet the extraordinary writer, @andrimagnason.bsky.social . Four days, one frozen helicopter ride and one dead glacier later I started work on this. observer.co.uk/style/featur...
observer.co.uk
Epitaph for a glacier | The Observer
Glaciers are not supposed to stop moving, but in 2014 one did. Miles Ellingham travels to Iceland to see it and meet the activist who believes its death should shock us into taking action
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
my brilliant colleague @robertshrimsley.bsky.social on the threat from Elon Musk’s X platform www.ft.com/content/f270...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Interesting piece about growing unease over the repeat spoiler tactics Reform and the Tel have been taking over big stories. Notable that Ben Riley Smith has criticised it, given that he was until fairly recently political editor of the Telegraph
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
When I went to Reform to ask why Tice had not declared his trip properly, Tice's response was to ask if I was antisemitic This is a vindication of sorts (also for @garethceredig.bsky.social, and the Naked Week team who had to reassure me that I wasn't) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Richard Tice apologises for not declaring Israel trip during debate
The visit, funded by Reform Friends of Israel, was declared in his register of interests but not during the debate.
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Who Targets Me @whotargets.me · 14/09/2026
New Reform ad campaign, calling on Labour to rule out tax rises at the Budget next month. Seems likely there will be lots of these to come, petition after petition, building an ever bigger email list of potential supporters.
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Chris Cook @chriscook.news · 14/09/2026
…CookCoins, sells them for a pound a throw to a pal occupying Crimea and - so long as I was willing to argue it was a commercial operation akin to other memecoins - I wouldn’t have to disclose the donors.
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Chris Cook @chriscook.news · 14/09/2026
Conversely: (b) we have already seen memecoins used to fund anti-democratic movements in the UK, and it’s not clear to me that a sale of a memecoin would count as a “donation” that requires registration rather than proceeds of the commercial activity of the party. So I could issue a billion…
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Phil Brickell MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Today I’ve written to the Electoral Commission asking them to investigate whether the recent donations to Reform UK are permissible. More here ⬇️
huffingtonpost.co.uk
Exclusive: Elections Watchdog Could Investigate Crypto Billionaires' £72m To Reform UK
Labour MP Phil Brickell has asked the Electoral Commission to clarify whether Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne’s donations are permissible.
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Chip in £3! 🤡
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
You’ll never guess what the call to action is? Is it use their massive majority to? … no not that
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Have a feeling ministers are being awoken by the sound of a horse bolting
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
As reported in @theobserveruk.bsky.social, Reform aides were briefing that the KC who advised that no laws were broken (described to me as "pre-eminent" in electoral law) would "reveal" themselves early this week. Same aides have gone v quiet since observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk
‘Farage has got to wake up and get rid of Zia Yusuf’: Ref...
Tensions with Reform’s home affairs spokesman, plus the expulsion of two senior advisers over another donations row, have created internal turmoil
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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Statement from Progressive Judaism leaders - Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky “Holding an Israeli government accountable for its actions does not cause antisemitism. Antisemites cause antisemitism. progressivejudaism.org.uk/rabbi-charle...
progressivejudaism.org.uk
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy: No single response can speak for British Jews - The Movement for Progressive Judaism
As we approach the High Holy Days, we enter a season of teshuvah, of looking honestly at ourselves, taking responsibility and asking what must change. Yet there is a temptation, on days like these, to...
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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
It's always the way, isn't it giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Graph shows far right support higher where the number of foreign nationals is lowest
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The 'Anyone but Zia' movement in Reform is building Jenrick and Tice are said to have developed an unofficial alliance to prevent Yusuf from taking over if and when Farage steps down “Rob knows he can’t win with the members, so he can’t go it alone, but Richard could have a chance."
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Mujtaba Rahman @mijrahman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The AfD’s victory was principally a mobilisation surge. The extraordinary increase in turnout - from 60.3% to around 76.5% was overwhelmingly advantageous to the AfD. People who had withdrawn from politics did not return to defend the centre; they returned to punish it
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Beautifully put, @catneilan.bsky.social: "The party’s annual conference was not overshadowed by the latest money scandal: it was illuminated by it."
observer.co.uk
‘Farage has got to wake up and get rid of Zia Yusuf’: Ref...
Tensions with Reform’s home affairs spokesman, plus the expulsion of two senior advisers over another donations row, have created internal turmoil
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Four protests and counting now disrupting Farage's speech...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Farage draws the presser to a close after just five questions - BBC, ITV, GB, Telegraph and the Sun
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Duncan Hames @duncanhames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
At the lunch, after they order the oysters, the american he meets 'from Wyoming' explains that he runs "an American family office", and that he hasn't "been able to donate directly". That he is not a permissible donor is plain to see.
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Mr Brown @mrbrownetc.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
He made the statement it was above board rather than asked the question. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Two Reform officials step down after undercover report on party donations
Reform says Dan Jukes and James Orr have left their roles as it launches an investigation into the report.
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
In press conference at Reform party conference, Nigel Farage claims Dan Jukes had engaged in "loose pub talk", and that the reason C4N hasn't published the bleeped-out donor names is bc the donations didn't happen
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Incredible journalism with genuinely incredible results. Appears extremely serious on the face of it
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Wow. Watch Channel 4 News now Nigel Farage discussing elicit funding for reform U.K. from a foreign donor All on secret camera
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Labour seems quite slow on this (6pm last night). They do not know who their candidate is going to be - but should be confident they can get this open racism retracted
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
"Democracy for Sale will continue scrutinising money and influence in our politics, wherever we find it. "Reform can stop us going to their conference. But Farage and his friends can’t stop our journalism." New by me, on being banned by Reform democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ive-been-b...
democracyforsale.substack.com
I’ve been banned by Reform. But this isn’t really about me.
My press accreditation for Reform’s conference was revoked. This should concern us all.
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
1. You don't make friends with salad 2. You sir are a baboon 3. Quoth the raven: eat my shorts 4. Stupid, sexy [nemesis] 5. Who likes short shorts?
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Thanks to Cat Neilan for giving me a quote in this piece about how recent revelations should really focus minds on strengthening donations rules, just as a key and very relevant parliamentary bill is scheduled to come back to the Commons for scrutiny next week...
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Exc: ‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s Montenegro business closes amid Reform donation investigation observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk
‘Posh George’ Cottrell’s overseas business closes as Refo...
The unofficial aide to Nigel Farage has quietly closed a Montenegro company that has been linked to payments made during the 2024 general election
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
🔴 BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING UK POLITICS From Farage's £5m gift to record donations, money in British politics is off the charts. Today, Democracy for Sale launches a video series w/ @transparencyuk.bsky.social on how super-rich buying UK democracy - and what can be done 🧵 youtu.be/Dn-G0nAlVwY?...
youtu.be
How big money is corrupting UK politics | Going, Going, Almost Gone, Ep. 1
YouTube video by Transparency International UK
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Episode one of "How Big Money is Corrupting UK politics" out now, with @oliverbullough.bsky.social @catneilan.bsky.social @duncanhames.bsky.social Faiza Shaheen and more The final two episodes drop next week - all presented by a hirsute Irishman 😜 Follow them all at democracyforsale.substack.com
democracyforsale.substack.com
Democracy for Sale | Peter Geoghegan | Substack
A newsletter dedicated to revealing how dark money and hidden influence threaten our democracy. Click to read Democracy for Sale, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
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Steve Goodrich @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
🚨NEW OUT TODAY🚨 🎬Episode 1 of Going, going, almost gone: How big money is corrupting UK politics. Ft. @duncanhames.bsky.social @catneilan.bsky.social @oliverbullough.bsky.social @faizashaheen.bsky.social @petergeoghegan.bsky.social @suehawley.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn-G...
youtube.com
How big money is corrupting UK politics | Going, Going, Almost Gone, Ep. 1
YouTube video by Transparency International UK
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Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
From 2015–2024, the share of donations from donors giving £1m+ grew from 1% to 35%. In the 2024 election, a record £94.5m was spent. Any UK individual can still donate unlimited sums. MPs debate the Representation of the People Bill next week. This is an opportunity we can't afford to miss. 2/3
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Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
🎬 EPISODE 1: HOW BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING UK POLITICS 🗣️ "We're in an arms race, and we're in an arms race with no guardrails" - @suehawley.bsky.social Today we publish Episode 1 of Going, Going, Almost Gone: How the Super-Rich Are Buying UK Democracy with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social 1/3
youtube.com
How big money is corrupting UK politics | Going, Going, Almost Gone, Ep. 1
YouTube video by Transparency International UK
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Am *super* excited about this video series Democracy for Sale has made with the wonderful people at @anticorruption.bsky.social Launches tomorrow!
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Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
🎬GOING, GOING, ALMOST GONE In partnership with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social, tomorrow we're releasing episode 1 of a 3 part minidocumentary series on how the super rich are buying UK democracy. 🔁 Subscribe to youtube.com/@TransparencyUK to not miss it and share to help end big money in politics.
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Was this my husband
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Emma Yeomans @yeomans.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Reports of a second derailment in 24 hours, this one in Essex. This country is not ready for global heating.
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The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Nigel Farage has been re-elected as the MP for Clacton, but refused to attend the count to avoid being “humiliated by nobodies” @catneilan.bsky.social, reports. Photograph by Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images bit.ly/4wSPg9U
bit.ly
‘Humiliated by nobodies': Farage keeps his seat in Clacto...
The Reform leader still faces a parliamentary investigation and potential byelection later this year, but he has shored up local support for his party
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Following Andy Burnham's remarks about the UK's "poorest communities" housing a disproportionate number of asylum seekers, I did some digging Dispersal has become a lot more evenly spread over the past decade but striking disparities exist inews.co.uk/news/the-cot...
inews.co.uk
The Cotswolds, New Forest and Malvern among 17 areas with no asylum seekers
New analysis shows the North West of England houses the largest number of asylum seekers - as Burnham says middle-class areas must 'play their part'
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James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Once again, I come back to the fact these guys have created a situation where one of the UK's leading, cis female athletes is scared to go to the loo alone, and the fact that they are celebrating this as a step forward for women's rights.
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Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
NEW: GB News has now spent a year as the leading news channel (though Ofcom treats its shows as "current affairs"). BARB data says it has been ahead of BBC News Channel and Sky News for 12 months in terms of average views. Still losing money, but gaining influence.
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