Presenter of Today in Focus, the Guardian's award winning daily podcast (covering for
@nosheeniqbal
). Contact me in confidence via helen.pidd
@theguardian
.com
Some news: I'm going on secondment for the rest of the year to present Today in Focus, the Guardian's award-winning daily news podcast, alongside
@safimichael
and
@hansermoore
and working with a sterling team of producers. Can't wait to get cracking.
The craziest thing about how the DWP pursued George is that he now costs the state £1,000 a month *more* than when he was claiming carers' allowance. After being prosecuted, he lost his home and became too mentally ill to work, so now lives in social housing on Universal Credit.
A carer who says he was “dragged through the courts” and had to sell his home to pay back almost £20,000 in benefit overpayments is fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acknowledged he made an "innocent mistake".
A carer who says he was “dragged through the courts” and had to sell his home to pay back almost £20,000 in benefit overpayments is fighting to clear his name after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) acknowledged he made an "innocent mistake".
Anyone else noticed that
@northernassist
seem to have stopped selling off peak tickets at weekend? Their explanation makes no sense at all, see below. Why would there be “no demand” for cheaper, off peak tickets?
@helenpidd
Hi there, I've just enquired about this and been advised that some routes don't have the demand for them so we offer the most used tickets instead. ^SC
I found it shocking reporting this story for Today in Focus: how thousands of women and girls in Greenland were fitted with coils without their consent as their Danish masters sought to slash the birth rate and cut the Greenlandic welfare bill. Do listen
We are now looking for a North of England reporter to join the
@guardian
northern team, alongside the excellent
@JoshHalliday
@RobynVinter
and
@markbrown14
. You can be based in Manchester with me and Josh & others or anywhere else in England's best half.
@northernassist
I’ll ask the press office for an explanation tomorrow. It seems totally unfair to unilaterally stop offering off peak tickets during off peak times.
@northernassist
Why would there be demand for more expensive peak tickets? This makes no sense at all. Weekends are supposed to be off peak so why are there no off peak tickets available?
Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead. We kindly ask fans to leave the area. Tickets holders will receive further information in due course.
If you want an uplifting listen, may I recommend this episode of Today in Focus about my magical day at an intergenerational care village in Chester, where young and old live together, with inspiring results
@BelongVillages
Listen to how the DWP hounded one carer through the courts with the net result that he lost his home and his mental health and now costs the treasury a lot more each month - produced by
@george_mcdonagh
Damien Hirst formaldehyde animal works dated to 1990s were made in 2017. The artist says the dates relate to the time he conceived them in his brain. Hmm. Great work by
@MaeveMCC
(who is based in the Guardian's Manchester office)
This was my final episode as a Today in Focus guest, being interviewed by the great
@NosheenIqbal
- before she goes off on maternity leave and I keep her seat warm for the rest of 2024. Wish us both luck!
If you want an uplifting listen, may I recommend this episode of Today in Focus about my magical day at an intergenerational care village in Chester, where young and old live together, with inspiring results
@BelongVillages
🎉 Introducing Crossed Wires Podcast Festival
This summer, the biggest names in UK podcasting will take over iconic venues in Sheffield for blockbuster live shows, never-seen-before performances & special guests!
🎟️ Info and tickets here:
@crossedwires_
In today's episode I try - and fail - to get Labour to talk to me about their local election prospects in east Lancashire. Labour really ought to win back Hyndburn, but Starmer's stance on Gaza is giving the party a headache & the Greens sense blood
I urge you to listen to this powerful, moving podcast about a woman as she prepares to take her own life at Dignitas - beautifully told by
@Robert_Booth
and
@hansermoore
Great interview with climate protestor Trudi Warner on a year being pursued by government lawyers determined to prosecute her over a jurors’ rights protest - by
@sandralaville
@louisgraysocial
hi Louis, would you be willing to have a chat with me about your experience? I'm a journalist from the Guardian. helen.pidd
@theguardian
.com
Just how much trouble is Angela Rayner really in? And why are the Tories so obsessed with her? Today's podcast episode explores these questions and more, the help of
@gabyhinsliff
,
@chedwardes
and the good people of Stockport.
I found it shocking reporting this story for Today in Focus: how thousands of women and girls in Greenland were fitted with coils without their consent as their Danish masters sought to slash the birth rate and cut the Greenlandic welfare bill. Do listen
Liz Truss is back - can she save us all? I spoke to
@MartinPengelly
, who went to school with her in Leeds, as well as seasoned Truss-watcher
@elenicourea
, for Today in Focus
@northernassist
hello, do you know what has happened to off peak single tickets? They no longer seem to be on sale at all at the weekends, which used to be off peak all day.
@AvantiWestCoast
I’m on the 13.15 from manchester Piccadilly to Euston. Been held at Macclesfield for last 40 mins. Do you think this service will get to Euston? And what time?
If you are feeling guilty for not really engaging with the war in Sudan and the massive humanitarian crisis there (25 million people suffering), listen to
@NesrineMalik
explain what is going on & why it matters
Open marriages seem to be a topic du jour. But how simple is it to open your marriage? I interview
@mollyrwinter
about having other partners when the kids are still at home, while
@andrewGmarshall
says you need to do AT LEAST six months talking first
Very thoughtful edition of Today in Focus about the Cass review, asking what now for trans young people - feat.
@ameliagentleman
, Dr Aidan Kelly & a trans teen & their mum, presented by
@hansermoore
On today's podcast,
@BenQuinn75
and I reminisce about our smoke-filled youths and discuss whether Rishi Sunak has a realistic chance of stubbing out smoking for future generations