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Neil Merrick

@neilmerrick.bsky.social
42 followers 75 following 18 posts

Freelance journalist. Writes about housing, education, local government & media. Interests music & sport.

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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Many thanks to Andy Kershaw, without whom I wouldn't have discovered so much brilliant music from around the world and would have spent a lot less money on CDs.
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Are journalists using rhetorical questions too much as headlines?
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Another highlight from day 1 of @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival - mesmeric mix of Indian classical singing & electronica from Arushi Jain.
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Great to be back @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival in Stroud. Incredible range of music & music lovers packed into a beautiful church. First day highlights inc @annaphoebe.bsky.social previewing new LP Divergence.
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Martin Warne @martinwarne.net · 16/09/2025
This, from The Londoner yesterday, also features people on the march who claim not to be racists. Though the things they say prove otherwise
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Daisy Rickman's set was definitely one of Friday's highlights @endoftheroadfestival.com. #EOTR25
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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
I'm currently at a housing conference & it's a slightly out of body experience politically, given the vibe here is thrilled with getting £39bn + basically all they asked for in spending review. Not that govt isn't in deep trouble elsewhere but it's a striking eg of how easily the popular stuff...
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Can't recommend this book by @lanre-bakare.bsky.social highly enough. Brilliantly mixes politics & culture to explain so much about multicultural Britain at a time when multiculturalism is sadly under such threat.
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Could councils play a bigger role in housing asylum seekers? My briefing for @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social (£). lgiu.org/briefing/acc...
lgiu.org
Accommodation for asylum seekers - what are the options for local authorities? - LGiU
Introduction The Home Office is responsible for housing and supporting people who seek asylum in the UK and would, generally, otherwise be destitute. Asylum seekers are offered ‘initial’ accommodation...
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Christine Buckley @mschrisbuckley.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Essential reading, especially if you’re going to Glastonbury! @nujofficial.bsky.social @ruthaddicott.bsky.social Also featuring @stephaniecpower.bsky.social on podcasts; @lindaharrisonpr.bsky.social on networking; @neilmerrick.bsky.social on AI; @rorywrites.bsky.social on student awards
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Steve Forecast @backfour94.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
bylinetimes.com Just got my copy and this editorial is exactly why it is such an important publication
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Richard Foord MP @richardfoordld.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Mid- & East Devon has some of the worst broadband connectivity in the UK - many areas here are in the bottom 10%. Yet companies like Airband have been allowed to withdraw from contracts without anything to replace them. Building Digital UK must do better for residents and businesses in rural areas.
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mary anne hobbs @maryannehobbs.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
New Radio Show: It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music Sundays 6-8pm from June 8th The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums. Open conversations with Artists we love. New experiments in storytelling & sound. Come with us.. Photography: @photobrettwalker.bsky.social
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hqn @hqnmedia.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents. In this review, @neilmerrick.bsky.social combs through the finer details of the chancellor's annoucement hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing
hqnetwork.co.uk
Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents - HQN
By the time the chancellor delivered her spring statement on Wednesday afternoon, the housing sector had known for 24 hours that it would be spared any
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Still pinching myself that Marika Hackman is playing local parish church in Devon this Saturday. Amazing chance to see her live in a wonderful setting.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
old but gold
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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 25/02/2025
What's the outlook for living standards in 2025? Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.
Public services matter for living standardsSome poorer households should see marginal gains in their living standardsBut incomes for those at the very bottom are set to stagnateHigher-income households also face a tough outlook
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mary anne hobbs @maryannehobbs.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Mary Anne Hobbs is leaving the building, for now... I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show. My Mid-Morning Show ends February 21st 2025. I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete. Thank you so much for listening... www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Cricket's Forgotten Team: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0028cjq via @bbciplayer
bbc.co.uk
Cricket's Forgotten Team
When the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the women's cricket team fled the country. Jo Currie tells the story of their battle to play competitive cricket and represent their country.
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hqn @hqnmedia.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Read the latest issue of HQM now! In this issue Neil Merrick reports on how a housing association’s tenants are helping to spread the word about energy efficiency, while enjoying lower bills hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk/housing-in-p... #ukhousing
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hqn @hqnmedia.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
The January issue of HQM is out! With Shelter CEO Polly Neate; features on FoI research into tenancy fraud, the first year of TSMs & the future of social housing rents policy; & we ask sector leaders & influencers to give us their housing predictions for the year ahead hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk #ukhousing
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
No, Sky. Non-EU visitors will pay more, not just those from the UK.
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Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
What are Kemi Badenoch's thoughts on the intergration of these criminals in mainstream British society?
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mary anne hobbs @maryannehobbs.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
News: My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music. Creative life is progression. Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question. My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new. Come with me..
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Common Cause Foundation @commoncause.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Last year we were interviewed by @neilmerrick.bsky.social for a report on the Values in the Media for the latest edition of the @nujofficial.bsky.social's The Journalist: content.yudu.com/web/3pylg/0A... Let us know what you think!
content.yudu.com
The Journalist Dec-Jan 2025
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The National Union of Journalists @nujofficial.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Johnnie Walker remembered by former NUJ colleagues for his “principled” outlook and “commitment to the union”, particularly during a showdown with management over a strike www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...
nuj.org.uk
Johnnie Walker remembered for his “loyal and effective” support for the NUJ
Broadcaster held firm during strike
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
In the week of his death, proud of this interview I did with Johnnie Walker in 1984 for the Wootton Bassett Standard, a local paper. Met Johnnie in the Cross Keys pub after his lunchtime show for GWR. He would later be advised by station bosses to spend less time in the pub each afternoon!
In the week of his death, proud of this interview I did with Johnnie Walker for the Wootton Bassett Standard, a local paper, in 1984. Met Johnnie in the Cross Keys pub after his lunchtime show for GWR, a local independent station. He would later be advised by station bosses to spend slightly less time in the pub each afternoon!
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Presumably we can now expect Cathy and other reporters to highlight the problems caused by Brexit on Channel 4 News.
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Lizzie Dearden @lizziedearden.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
In July, I FOI'd the Home Office for the full breakdown of spending on the Rwanda scheme I was refused because the government planned to publish the data in future, and today is the day. These numbers are in millions www.gov.uk/government/p...
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James Vincent @jjvincent.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
a haunting front page, and rightfully so: we should be haunted by this. www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11...
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Neil Merrick @neilmerrick.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Excellent feature on @maryannehobbs.bsky.social 6Music show today about sustainability & live music. Including @bristolbeacon.bsky.social initiatives. Wonder if gigs could finish earlier to encourage public transport. Say 10pm?
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Daniel Hewitt @danielhewittitv.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Really pleased to say I am presenting an ITV programme on hospice and end of life care. Since my mum received hospice care a decade ago I’ve been investigating the state of the sector and its lack of funding. Keeping Care Alive: Hospices in Crisis? will air on ITV, 8:30pm, Thursday 28th November
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