Greg Barradale
@gregbarradale.bsky.social
Senior reporter for @bigissue.com - covering untold stories from housing and asylum to drugs and politics
Pinned
Greg Barradale
@gregbarradale.bsky.social
· May 14
Buzzing to say I'm a finalist in this year's Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness!
Super honoured to be named alongside some amazing journalists and stories. It's a cracking list. One day I'll get a headshot where I don't have to blur the background.
Super honoured to be named alongside some amazing journalists and stories. It's a cracking list. One day I'll get a headshot where I don't have to blur the background.
NEW: Labour pledges £12m to stop 1,000+ veterans becoming homeless
Funding boost comes after Big Issue revealed doubts over future of scheme - with fears March 2026 cliff-edge could see veteran rough sleeping surge. Led to pressure from Tories/Lib Dems
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Funding boost comes after Big Issue revealed doubts over future of scheme - with fears March 2026 cliff-edge could see veteran rough sleeping surge. Led to pressure from Tories/Lib Dems
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
NEW: Labour pledges £12m to stop 1,000+ veterans becoming homeless
Funding boost comes after Big Issue revealed doubts over future of scheme - with fears March 2026 cliff-edge could see veteran rough sleeping surge. Led to pressure from Tories/Lib Dems
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Funding boost comes after Big Issue revealed doubts over future of scheme - with fears March 2026 cliff-edge could see veteran rough sleeping surge. Led to pressure from Tories/Lib Dems
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
NEW: Shadow defence sec James Cartlidge says Starmer's gov "must urgently confirm" funding for homeless veterans after @bigissue.com reveals doubts over cash could leave hundreds homeless
Story: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Story: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
November 3, 2025 at 2:16 PM
NEW: Shadow defence sec James Cartlidge says Starmer's gov "must urgently confirm" funding for homeless veterans after @bigissue.com reveals doubts over cash could leave hundreds homeless
Story: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Story: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
NEW: Labour should 'urgently' act on Right to Buy reforms to stop councils losing millions buying back Yo-yo Homes they owned just a few years previously, Andy Burnham's deputy Paul Dennett says
Comes after @bigissue.com found 120+ examples, incl in GM👇
Story: www.bigissue.com/uncategorise...
Comes after @bigissue.com found 120+ examples, incl in GM👇
Story: www.bigissue.com/uncategorise...
November 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
NEW: Labour should 'urgently' act on Right to Buy reforms to stop councils losing millions buying back Yo-yo Homes they owned just a few years previously, Andy Burnham's deputy Paul Dennett says
Comes after @bigissue.com found 120+ examples, incl in GM👇
Story: www.bigissue.com/uncategorise...
Comes after @bigissue.com found 120+ examples, incl in GM👇
Story: www.bigissue.com/uncategorise...
UPDATE: Former veterans' minister Johnny Mercer says he's "very angry" after @bigissue.com reveals cash which helped 1k+ veterans off the streets is in doubt.
"On one hand this government say they will look after veterans. But when they think no-one is looking, they turn off the funding"
"On one hand this government say they will look after veterans. But when they think no-one is looking, they turn off the funding"
🚨EXC: Starmer promised to house all veterans in need. But scheme which has got 1k vets off street is in doubt
👉Veterans orgs tell me future cash is uncertain
👉Orgs warn they'd have to shut housing without funding
👉 One org listed by gov as taking referrals never got cash
👉Veterans orgs tell me future cash is uncertain
👉Orgs warn they'd have to shut housing without funding
👉 One org listed by gov as taking referrals never got cash
Hundreds of veterans face homelessness as future of support scheme uncertain
Keir Starmer promised millions towards supporting veterans under threat of homelessness. Big Issue looks at how those promises worked out.
www.bigissue.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:08 PM
UPDATE: Former veterans' minister Johnny Mercer says he's "very angry" after @bigissue.com reveals cash which helped 1k+ veterans off the streets is in doubt.
"On one hand this government say they will look after veterans. But when they think no-one is looking, they turn off the funding"
"On one hand this government say they will look after veterans. But when they think no-one is looking, they turn off the funding"
“Quite simply, we’re worried that the government does not want its homework marked when it comes to child poverty"
Guardian reporting on @bigissue.com campaign ramping up pressure on government to set firm targets on reducing child poverty
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Guardian reporting on @bigissue.com campaign ramping up pressure on government to set firm targets on reducing child poverty
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Charities and stars call on UK government to set child poverty reduction targets
Signatories of open letter include National Children’s Bureau, Barnardo’s and celebrities such as Emilia Clarke
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:41 AM
“Quite simply, we’re worried that the government does not want its homework marked when it comes to child poverty"
Guardian reporting on @bigissue.com campaign ramping up pressure on government to set firm targets on reducing child poverty
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Guardian reporting on @bigissue.com campaign ramping up pressure on government to set firm targets on reducing child poverty
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
🚨EXC: Starmer promised to house all veterans in need. But scheme which has got 1k vets off street is in doubt
👉Veterans orgs tell me future cash is uncertain
👉Orgs warn they'd have to shut housing without funding
👉 One org listed by gov as taking referrals never got cash
👉Veterans orgs tell me future cash is uncertain
👉Orgs warn they'd have to shut housing without funding
👉 One org listed by gov as taking referrals never got cash
Hundreds of veterans face homelessness as future of support scheme uncertain
Keir Starmer promised millions towards supporting veterans under threat of homelessness. Big Issue looks at how those promises worked out.
www.bigissue.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 AM
🚨EXC: Starmer promised to house all veterans in need. But scheme which has got 1k vets off street is in doubt
👉Veterans orgs tell me future cash is uncertain
👉Orgs warn they'd have to shut housing without funding
👉 One org listed by gov as taking referrals never got cash
👉Veterans orgs tell me future cash is uncertain
👉Orgs warn they'd have to shut housing without funding
👉 One org listed by gov as taking referrals never got cash
🚨 @bigissue.com EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of veterans could be made homeless as cash for housing in doubt
Starmer promised to 'house all veterans in need'
But orgs funded by Op Fortitude, which provides 900 beds, say they don't know if money will continue past March. Warn rough sleeping could increase
Starmer promised to 'house all veterans in need'
But orgs funded by Op Fortitude, which provides 900 beds, say they don't know if money will continue past March. Warn rough sleeping could increase
October 31, 2025 at 9:29 AM
🚨 @bigissue.com EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of veterans could be made homeless as cash for housing in doubt
Starmer promised to 'house all veterans in need'
But orgs funded by Op Fortitude, which provides 900 beds, say they don't know if money will continue past March. Warn rough sleeping could increase
Starmer promised to 'house all veterans in need'
But orgs funded by Op Fortitude, which provides 900 beds, say they don't know if money will continue past March. Warn rough sleeping could increase
🚨 Disabled children are having to wait for nearly four months to receive benefit payments due to government delays - double the time the DWP is meant to process applications in
@cjayanetti.bsky.social for @bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
@cjayanetti.bsky.social for @bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Disabled children left waiting months for benefits due to DWP delays
Single mother Maryam had to wait three months to get child disability allowance for her seven-year-old daughter, who has kidney cancer.
www.bigissue.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM
🚨 Disabled children are having to wait for nearly four months to receive benefit payments due to government delays - double the time the DWP is meant to process applications in
@cjayanetti.bsky.social for @bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
@cjayanetti.bsky.social for @bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
🚨Exclusive: Investigation from @bigissue.com reveals councils lost £15M repurchasing 'Yo-yo Homes' sold under Right to Buy, with sellers pocketing profits as homelessness rises. Labour faces calls for reform. #YoYoHomes #RightToBuy #HousingCrisis
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Revealed: These are the Right to Buy homes councils have lost millions on buying back
Explore the 120 Right to Buy homes councils have lost millions re-buying – and find out why Labour's reforms might not stop Yo-yo Homes.
www.bigissue.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:08 PM
🚨Exclusive: Investigation from @bigissue.com reveals councils lost £15M repurchasing 'Yo-yo Homes' sold under Right to Buy, with sellers pocketing profits as homelessness rises. Labour faces calls for reform. #YoYoHomes #RightToBuy #HousingCrisis
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
A House of Dynamite….don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that so lacked the confidence to actually make the point it wanted to make
At least it was two acts long in runtime as well as plot. Felt like a bottle episode of a v mid prestige TV show
Watch the Sum of All Fears instead
At least it was two acts long in runtime as well as plot. Felt like a bottle episode of a v mid prestige TV show
Watch the Sum of All Fears instead
October 29, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A House of Dynamite….don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that so lacked the confidence to actually make the point it wanted to make
At least it was two acts long in runtime as well as plot. Felt like a bottle episode of a v mid prestige TV show
Watch the Sum of All Fears instead
At least it was two acts long in runtime as well as plot. Felt like a bottle episode of a v mid prestige TV show
Watch the Sum of All Fears instead
🚨EXCLUSIVE: Taxpayers are losing millions as councils buy back homes they sold just a few years previously under Right to Buy
I’ve uncovered 120+ examples. Today we’re revealing them all
@bigissue.com
Here's a thread of 10 that will shock you 🧵
I’ve uncovered 120+ examples. Today we’re revealing them all
@bigissue.com
Here's a thread of 10 that will shock you 🧵
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
🚨EXCLUSIVE: Taxpayers are losing millions as councils buy back homes they sold just a few years previously under Right to Buy
I’ve uncovered 120+ examples. Today we’re revealing them all
@bigissue.com
Here's a thread of 10 that will shock you 🧵
I’ve uncovered 120+ examples. Today we’re revealing them all
@bigissue.com
Here's a thread of 10 that will shock you 🧵
Reposted by Greg Barradale
👀 Exclusive: How councils lost £15m of taxpayers' money – by buying back homes they sold
Big Issue reporter @gregbarradale.bsky.social here. I've been digging into Yo-yo Homes. They're costing taxpayers millions
Today we're publishing the full list of 120+ Yo-yo Homes we've discovered. Here's a 🧵
Big Issue reporter @gregbarradale.bsky.social here. I've been digging into Yo-yo Homes. They're costing taxpayers millions
Today we're publishing the full list of 120+ Yo-yo Homes we've discovered. Here's a 🧵
October 28, 2025 at 11:46 AM
👀 Exclusive: How councils lost £15m of taxpayers' money – by buying back homes they sold
Big Issue reporter @gregbarradale.bsky.social here. I've been digging into Yo-yo Homes. They're costing taxpayers millions
Today we're publishing the full list of 120+ Yo-yo Homes we've discovered. Here's a 🧵
Big Issue reporter @gregbarradale.bsky.social here. I've been digging into Yo-yo Homes. They're costing taxpayers millions
Today we're publishing the full list of 120+ Yo-yo Homes we've discovered. Here's a 🧵
🚨REVEALED: How to lose £15m of taxpayers’ money
Today we’ve published 120+ examples where ex-tenants have sold Right to Buy properties back to councils at profits sometimes >£200k. They’re the Yo-yo Home Files
Across just 13 councils, the losses total over £15m
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Today we’ve published 120+ examples where ex-tenants have sold Right to Buy properties back to councils at profits sometimes >£200k. They’re the Yo-yo Home Files
Across just 13 councils, the losses total over £15m
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Revealed: These are the Right to Buy homes councils have lost millions on buying back
Explore the 120 Right to Buy homes councils have lost millions re-buying – and find out why Labour's reforms might not stop Yo-yo Homes.
www.bigissue.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:19 AM
🚨REVEALED: How to lose £15m of taxpayers’ money
Today we’ve published 120+ examples where ex-tenants have sold Right to Buy properties back to councils at profits sometimes >£200k. They’re the Yo-yo Home Files
Across just 13 councils, the losses total over £15m
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Today we’ve published 120+ examples where ex-tenants have sold Right to Buy properties back to councils at profits sometimes >£200k. They’re the Yo-yo Home Files
Across just 13 councils, the losses total over £15m
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Interesting Guardian story about Brighton reversing Right to Buy
As I revealed this month, councils have spent over £2bn buying up 8.5k homes in the past five years. Half of those are homes previously lost under Right to Buy.
It's widespread: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
As I revealed this month, councils have spent over £2bn buying up 8.5k homes in the past five years. Half of those are homes previously lost under Right to Buy.
It's widespread: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
October 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Interesting Guardian story about Brighton reversing Right to Buy
As I revealed this month, councils have spent over £2bn buying up 8.5k homes in the past five years. Half of those are homes previously lost under Right to Buy.
It's widespread: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
As I revealed this month, councils have spent over £2bn buying up 8.5k homes in the past five years. Half of those are homes previously lost under Right to Buy.
It's widespread: www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
What a story about the snake-oil world of brain training
Dr Kawashima would be absolutely spinning in his grave
Dr Kawashima would be absolutely spinning in his grave
October 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
What a story about the snake-oil world of brain training
Dr Kawashima would be absolutely spinning in his grave
Dr Kawashima would be absolutely spinning in his grave
👀Looks like the government has confirmed its plans to cut affordable housing targets in London to 20%
Press release says projects which commit to 20% housebuilding will be accelerated – as long as 60% of those homes (so 12% total) are social housing
Press release says projects which commit to 20% housebuilding will be accelerated – as long as 60% of those homes (so 12% total) are social housing
October 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
👀Looks like the government has confirmed its plans to cut affordable housing targets in London to 20%
Press release says projects which commit to 20% housebuilding will be accelerated – as long as 60% of those homes (so 12% total) are social housing
Press release says projects which commit to 20% housebuilding will be accelerated – as long as 60% of those homes (so 12% total) are social housing
“She’s 9 now, and she’s never had her own room, never had somewhere to put up posters or invite friends over”
That’s the reality of life in temporary accommodation, laid bare by @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social
Even the new homelessness minister admits she was shocked by the scale of the crisis
That’s the reality of life in temporary accommodation, laid bare by @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social
Even the new homelessness minister admits she was shocked by the scale of the crisis
October 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
“She’s 9 now, and she’s never had her own room, never had somewhere to put up posters or invite friends over”
That’s the reality of life in temporary accommodation, laid bare by @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social
Even the new homelessness minister admits she was shocked by the scale of the crisis
That’s the reality of life in temporary accommodation, laid bare by @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social
Even the new homelessness minister admits she was shocked by the scale of the crisis
"The Big Issue's investigation has put the spotlight back on Right to Buy"
🪀The fantastic @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social from @millmedia.bsky.social running with my Yo-yo Homes story 🪀
Love to see it
🪀The fantastic @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social from @millmedia.bsky.social running with my Yo-yo Homes story 🪀
Love to see it
October 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
"The Big Issue's investigation has put the spotlight back on Right to Buy"
🪀The fantastic @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social from @millmedia.bsky.social running with my Yo-yo Homes story 🪀
Love to see it
🪀The fantastic @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social from @millmedia.bsky.social running with my Yo-yo Homes story 🪀
Love to see it
"It's frustrating, it's infuriating, and it's got this quite sinister element to it"
I went on the PoliticsJOE podcast to talk all things Yo-yo Homes with @avasantina.bsky.social
A thrill!
Catch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvQ...
I went on the PoliticsJOE podcast to talk all things Yo-yo Homes with @avasantina.bsky.social
A thrill!
Catch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvQ...
Yo-Yo homes: Thatcher's invention that ruined the housing market
YouTube video by PoliticsJOE
www.youtube.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:41 AM
"It's frustrating, it's infuriating, and it's got this quite sinister element to it"
I went on the PoliticsJOE podcast to talk all things Yo-yo Homes with @avasantina.bsky.social
A thrill!
Catch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvQ...
I went on the PoliticsJOE podcast to talk all things Yo-yo Homes with @avasantina.bsky.social
A thrill!
Catch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmvQ...
People with learning difficulties die 19.5 years younger on average - living to just 62.5 years old
Nearly 4 in 10 deaths of people with a learning disability in 2023 were "avoidable"
Nearly 4 in 10 deaths of people with a learning disability in 2023 were "avoidable"
October 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
People with learning difficulties die 19.5 years younger on average - living to just 62.5 years old
Nearly 4 in 10 deaths of people with a learning disability in 2023 were "avoidable"
Nearly 4 in 10 deaths of people with a learning disability in 2023 were "avoidable"
“It is indefensible that local councils sell housing stock at a discount, only to repurchase the same properties years later at five times the price. This highlights a broken system"
Jeremy Corbyn, Ed Davey, Zarah Sultana and more react after Big Issue reveals councils losing millions on 'yo-yo' Right to Buy homes.
Yo-yo Homes highlight broken system, MPs say after Big Issue's Right to Buy exposé
www.bigissue.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
“It is indefensible that local councils sell housing stock at a discount, only to repurchase the same properties years later at five times the price. This highlights a broken system"
NEW: Lib Dems would allow councils to end Right to Buy, says @eddavey.libdems.org.uk
His comments come after @bigissue.com revealed councils losing millions buying back Yo-yo Homes they sold under Right to Buy just a few years earlier
His comments come after @bigissue.com revealed councils losing millions buying back Yo-yo Homes they sold under Right to Buy just a few years earlier
October 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
NEW: Lib Dems would allow councils to end Right to Buy, says @eddavey.libdems.org.uk
His comments come after @bigissue.com revealed councils losing millions buying back Yo-yo Homes they sold under Right to Buy just a few years earlier
His comments come after @bigissue.com revealed councils losing millions buying back Yo-yo Homes they sold under Right to Buy just a few years earlier
NEW: Yo-yo Homes "indefensible" and highlight broken system says @zarahsultana.bsky.social
This week @bigissue.com revealed ex-tenants making £200k+ selling Right to Buy homes back to councils just a few years after sale
Now Sultana, Corbyn, Ed Davey, and more weigh in on the story
This week @bigissue.com revealed ex-tenants making £200k+ selling Right to Buy homes back to councils just a few years after sale
Now Sultana, Corbyn, Ed Davey, and more weigh in on the story
October 17, 2025 at 12:01 PM
NEW: Yo-yo Homes "indefensible" and highlight broken system says @zarahsultana.bsky.social
This week @bigissue.com revealed ex-tenants making £200k+ selling Right to Buy homes back to councils just a few years after sale
Now Sultana, Corbyn, Ed Davey, and more weigh in on the story
This week @bigissue.com revealed ex-tenants making £200k+ selling Right to Buy homes back to councils just a few years after sale
Now Sultana, Corbyn, Ed Davey, and more weigh in on the story
When I asked Polanski about possible defections for @bigissue.com in June his answer was interesting (before anyone knew what a Your Party was)
Looking back it feels like there might have been a big sliding doors moment happen in British left politics which went under the radar
Looking back it feels like there might have been a big sliding doors moment happen in British left politics which went under the radar
October 16, 2025 at 8:20 PM
When I asked Polanski about possible defections for @bigissue.com in June his answer was interesting (before anyone knew what a Your Party was)
Looking back it feels like there might have been a big sliding doors moment happen in British left politics which went under the radar
Looking back it feels like there might have been a big sliding doors moment happen in British left politics which went under the radar
Love to see the Yo-yo Homes story elevated to the level of 'scandal', leading the excellent London Minute newsletter today
October 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Love to see the Yo-yo Homes story elevated to the level of 'scandal', leading the excellent London Minute newsletter today