Albert Toth

The figures are incredible – people simply don't have enough money to get by in 2025, let alone thrive.

Families in Britain are £20,000 worse off than 20 years ago, report warns Income stagnation over the past two decades is ‘unprecedented in modern times,’ damning new report warns

A staggering report from @resfoundation.bsky.social which I cover for The Independent today. As essentials have risen by as much as 120 per cent, wages on average have gone up just seven. The cost of decades of political inaction
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

“More than 1 in 4 children are living in homes where people are forced to skip or cut back on meals because of financial concerns, as campaigners warn the crisis should ‘shame the government to its core’”

I cover this timely report from @trusselluk.bsky.social for The Independent today:

Benefits misinformation spreads online as millions grapple with cost of living Fake news about changes to household finances is proliferating online

Decided it was finally time to report on a concerning (and annoying) trend

Parents occupy community centre with buggy blockade in protest over cost of childcare Families and youth workers occupy recently closed centre run by Living Under One Sun in Tottenham in protest over lack of affordable childcare and school holiday support

“When the centre closed, I felt like I lost my other home... We won't let them take our community centre.”

The great @taracobham.bsky.social and I report for The Independent:

I looked into David Dinsmore’s CV as he takes up a central role in government👇

The billionaire and the tax evading gift shops Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital manages a row of high-profile shops at Piccadilly Circus. So why does his team keeping renting them to students who vanish without paying millions of pounds in taxes?

He's one of Britain's richest men. So why does Asif Aziz's property company keep leasing London gift shops to overseas students based in abandoned offices or flytipped car parks — before vanishing without paying millions of pounds in taxes? www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...

Liz Kendall to DWP committee just now: "I do not agree that the [Pathways to Work green] paper as a whole somehow lacked consultation with disabled people"

The green paper (the words 'we are not consulting' appear five times):

Nearly 800,000 disabled children stand to lose out from Labour welfare reform Over a million current disability benefit claimants have been left out of Labour’s welfare concessions – and most are children

Over a million current disability benefit claimants have been left out of Labour’s welfare concessions – and most are children
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

‘Trying to claim PIP was awful – Labour still wants to make it harder’ More than half of disabled people who attend a health benefit assessment say they feel humiliated by the process

MPs will vote on Tuesday on whether to make PIP harder to claim for a future generation of disabled people.

For @the-independent.com I spoke to claimants, experts and a former assessor about the uphill battle many already face to get what they're entitled to.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Have you or someone you know had a troubling experience at a PIP assessment? Would love to hear your story for an article for @the-independent.com.

DM or get in touch: albert.toth@independent.co.uk

All information handled sensitively, and anonymously if desired.

Well deserved. A masterclass in how journalism can bring real justice and change people’s lives for the better

Timely and important. The way we talk about welfare matters - it is one of the first steps to tackle stigma and misinformation. Would encourage everyone - politician / journalist or not - to have a read.

Based on an important survey by @medact.bsky.social with quote from @drabioconnor.bsky.social / @neweconomics.bsky.social. Thanks to them and also renters who spoke to me for the story.

Experts warn of health epidemic sparked by Britain’s housing crisis Exclusive: Doctors and renters tell The Independent how housing issues are worsening health in Britain

Exclusive: A survey of 1000s of health workers finds that the majority believe making rents more affordable would reduce the strain on NHS.

Most also say that they often see children with health problems made worse by insecure housing:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

…finding out that no one really cared, then being told by the editor to cherry pick quotes that made out like they did.

Much less of that kind of journalism would be good for everyone

When I was a young hopeful journalist fresh out of university I did a stint of work experience for a local paper.

Most of the day was spent going to neighbourhoods where everyone was apparently outraged about something like a new road, or (more worryingly) Travellers etc…

Labour benefit cuts consultation labeled a ‘sham’ as PIP changes not up for debate Campaigners have called the conversation a ‘sham’ as people are invited to discuss only half of the proposals

'The millions of benefit claimants affected by Labour’s planned changes to welfare will soon be able to have their say on the controversial package, but with one crucial catch: they aren’t allowed to talk about the cuts.'

Me for @the-independent.com

Starmer: MPs could vote on benefit cuts before knowing full details Labour says its welfare reforms are designed to help people into work – but MPs might have to take that on faith

Labour says its welfare reforms are designed to help people into work – MPs might have to take that on faith

True scale of welfare cuts ‘closer to £9bn’, experts warn Experts warn 100,000 more people plunged into poverty by cuts than government previously estimated

I cover crucial analysis of Labour’s welfare cuts today for @the-independent.com. Important work by @neweconomics.bsky.social @benbgeiger.bsky.social

MPs to vote on disability benefit cuts without knowing ‘full impact’ Britain’s economic watchdog may not publish forecast of employment prospects until the end of October

MPs are set to vote on disability benefit cuts without any idea how many of those affected will find work

The OBR may not publish its employment impact forecast of the plans until the end of October - after a Commons vote is likely to have taken place

By me: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

https://www.sgsss.ac.uk/studentship/disabled-peoples-lived-experiences-of-benefit-reform-and-the-costs-of-disability/ ESRC-funded Supervisor-led Studentship Disabled People's Lived Experiences of Benefit Reform and the Costs of Disability University of Glasgow Supervisors: Professor Sharon Wright, Professor Charlotte Pearson, Dr Clementine Hill O'Connor Deadline 10 April, 5pm BST References due 16 April, 5pm BST To apply go to apply.sgsss.ac.uk Picture of historic stone Glasgow University building with green grass, trees and sunshine.

Spread the word! Exciting new fully funded PhD opportunity to research disabled people's lived experiences of benefit reform and the costs of disability.
Deadline: 10 April
@uofglasgow.bsky.social @uofgussp.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social @sgsss.bsky.social @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social

Yes I had some doubts about OBR’s behavioural forecast @benbgeiger.bsky.social so was good to read your analysis on the issue just now. Agree that the headline cuts figure conceals a truer picture (hoping to cover this soon)

No evidence welfare cuts will get more people into work, OBR says The spending watchdog’s says it was not provided with an analysis of how the reforms could boost employment

Good to talk to @alb-toth.bsky.social for this piece. Cutting ill & disabled people's incomes doesn't make them more able to return to work, but OBR/HMT orthodoxy & risk aversion means only crude & blunt cuts are being 'scored' as likely savings for DWP www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Yeah that was my initial thought / concern. But appreciate the points you've made - thanks Chaminda

The factor might have some impact, but 650k managing to ‘find’ the extra points at the (already stringent) assessment? Seems like a massive overestimate

Hi, this bit did confuse me. Is the OBR’s point really that people will ‘try harder’ at the assessment? With so many already turned down despite obviously qualifying (see % of overturns at tribunal) it seems to me that people will try just as hard as they have been, but many more will be turned down

‘I’m terrified’: Disabled benefit claimants on the impact of Labour’s £5 billion cuts Welfare recipients tell The Independent what losing their health-related benefits would mean to them

“I grew up believing that the Labour Party was the political party for the everyday man or woman and as far as I’m concerned, being disabled doesn’t stop us from being as important as the everyday man or woman who isn’t disabled.”

Worked on this one with the great @hollybancroft.bsky.social