About Me
Freelance journalist specialising in investigations, news, B2B publications, and data journalism.
Previously, Senior Reporter at Schools Week, Local Democracy Reporter at Birmingham Mail and BBC, and Reporter at The Guardian.
A recipient of the John Schofield Trust fellowship 2023 and winner of the Scott Trust bursary 2019.
For work inquiries email: rhistorerwrites@gmail.com
My Latest Journalism Work
JLR cuts hundreds of UK jobs: Lessons in handling voluntary redundancies - HR Magazine
Jaguar Land Rover’s plan to axe up to 500 management jobs in the UK should remind employers about their duties surrounding voluntary redundancies, HR commentators have said.
Leaders of the British luxury car manufacturer announced that about 1.5% of its staff in the UK would be affected by job cuts as part of a voluntary redundancy round for managers, Sky News reported yesterday (17 July).
Leaders of the British luxury car manufacturer announced that about 1.5% of its staff in the UK would be affected by job cuts as part of a voluntary redundancy round for managers, Sky News reported yesterday (17 July).
Sainsbury's scraps staffroom snacks: How HR can encourage physical wellbeing - HR Magazine
That leaders of Sainsbury’s plan to remove unhealthy snacks from staffrooms should encourage initiatives to improve physical wellbeing in the workplace, HR leaders have said.
The British supermarket chain is set to remove free crisps and biscuits from its staffrooms and instead offer items from an approved ‘light meal’ option, including soups, porridge and bread.
The British supermarket chain is set to remove free crisps and biscuits from its staffrooms and instead offer items from an approved ‘light meal’ option, including soups, porridge and bread.
Google 'handling stolen goods' with Youtube theft of paywalled news articles
Youtube channels are using AI to steal words and photographs from paywalled news content and reproduce articles wholesale without the consent of publishers.
The practice has been highlighted by freelance journalist Rob McGibbon after a first-person account of his estrangement from his late father written for the Daily Mail was lifted wholesale and reproduced by the Youtube Channel: “The World News.” Youtube is part of Google, which made at least £20bn in UK advertising revenue last year.
The practice has been highlighted by freelance journalist Rob McGibbon after a first-person account of his estrangement from his late father written for the Daily Mail was lifted wholesale and reproduced by the Youtube Channel: “The World News.” Youtube is part of Google, which made at least £20bn in UK advertising revenue last year.
Benefits cuts threaten school-readiness target
Ministers have not assessed the impact savage cuts to disability benefits – plunging 250,000 more people into poverty – will have on their school-ready metric, part of Labour’s education opportunity mission.
Sir Keir Starmer has set a target that 75 per cent of children will have a “good” level of development by the time they...
Sir Keir Starmer has set a target that 75 per cent of children will have a “good” level of development by the time they...
Outsourced contract rises hit school catering budgets
Hard-pressed schools are warning of extra pressures from the rising cost of outsourced contracts as companies grapple with national insurance hikes, minimum wages and food costs.
Caterers say they may have to stop serving smaller schools or make redundancies, and that a return to the school m...
Caterers say they may have to stop serving smaller schools or make redundancies, and that a return to the school m...
Oracy Commission chair 'reassured' about curriculum review
The chair of the Oracy Commission has said he is “reassured” the issue will be “woven into” the curriculum review’s final report, after the interim document failed to mention it.
Labour announced in 2023 that its curriculum and assessment review would embed “digital, oracy and life skill...
Labour announced in 2023 that its curriculum and assessment review would embed “digital, oracy and life skill...
Excluded children: Councils failing in duty to find places
Councils across the country are routinely failing in their legal duty to provide full-time education for excluded pupils within six days, a Schools Week investigation has found, with some youngsters waiting two years for provision.
‘We can’t run at a loss’: Heads snub flagship breakfast clubs
Primary schools invited to trial Labour’s flagship free breakfast clubs have pulled out or are having to take a financial hit after being told that the basic funding rate is just 60p per pupil.
Up to 750 primary schools will be funded as part of a...
Up to 750 primary schools will be funded as part of a...
Head scores victory as Google agrees to delete school reviews
A deputy headteacher who created a petition to remove Google school ratings and reviews for educational institutes has won a victory against the tech giant.
Justin Cowley, who works at Mendell Primary School in Bromborough, Wirral, sent a letter to Google this month demanding...
Justin Cowley, who works at Mendell Primary School in Bromborough, Wirral, sent a letter to Google this month demanding...
More duties? Some councils have no home education staff
Proposals to give councils more power to check on pupils not in school will be “significantly insufficient” unless they get funding to build capacity – with some “hollowed-out” authorities having no dedicated home education officers.
Labour’s schools bill will give councils...
Labour’s schools bill will give councils...
Headteachers demand Google delete school reviews
A deputy head has rallied scores of leaders to fight back against Google school reviews after claiming parents face a “search engine lottery” when trying to check school performance.
The tech giant announced in 2019 that it would no longer let people leave reviews on schools, which were d...
The tech giant announced in 2019 that it would no longer let people leave reviews on schools, which were d...
Rachel is a victim of domestic violence. Why won’t West Midlands Police help her?
Funny and full of affection was how Rachel* first described her new romance. She met her new partner, Steve*, in 2005 at work and a year later began a relationship. She says he was an inveterate teller of jokes. “He was so funny and so quick off the mark,” she said. “I was happy to have met him”.
They married in 2007. Rachel was pregnant with their first son, and believed they had developed a strong bond. Within a year of the marriage, however, the relationship deteriorated. “He started drinking heavily and had become increasingly aggressive and abusive,” she said. “This was behaviour he had never previously exhibited with me.”
They married in 2007. Rachel was pregnant with their first son, and believed they had developed a strong bond. Within a year of the marriage, however, the relationship deteriorated. “He started drinking heavily and had become increasingly aggressive and abusive,” she said. “This was behaviour he had never previously exhibited with me.”
Solving the housing crisis with £50,000, eco-friendly tiny homes
Tiny homes may be the next fix for the UK’s housing crisis – and university students from across the country are joining forces to bring them to a town and city near you.
Homefolk, a youth-led social enterprise, was first set up in 2021 to find a sustainable solution to the housing crisis. Over 30 students from the University of Sheffield, the University of Glasgow and Queen Mary University of London will begin work to create affordable and sustainable ‘tiny home villages’ in urban areas.
Homefolk, a youth-led social enterprise, was first set up in 2021 to find a sustainable solution to the housing crisis. Over 30 students from the University of Sheffield, the University of Glasgow and Queen Mary University of London will begin work to create affordable and sustainable ‘tiny home villages’ in urban areas.
Mad Vlad orders strategic nuclear weapons training exercise amid Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin has launched a rehearsal massive exercise of the country's nuclear artillery in a simulation of a retaliatory strikes as tensions continue to spiral with the West over Ukraine.
Just 5% of private rentals in London are affordable to low-income earners
London is home to an estimated 2.7 million private renters – around 30% of the capital’s population. More than 400,000 private renters in London – approximately one in seven – rely on LHA to cover their housing costs.
The loss of privately rented homes makes it harder for boroughs to prevent and relieve homelessness, including through using such properties as temporary accommodation.
The loss of privately rented homes makes it harder for boroughs to prevent and relieve homelessness, including through using such properties as temporary accommodation.
Guests wake to find 'ghost of girl' staring down at them at 'most haunted hotel'
Dark figures, ghosts, and ghoulish voices have been reported at a haunted hotel in Tennessee.
Boy dies after 'falling in love' with Game of Thrones-inspired chatbot
A boy has died dead after allegedly received a message from a Games of Thrones affiliated chatbot telling him to "come home", according to a lawsuit by the grief-riddled mother.
Labour told to end policies causing deaths of thousands of homeless people
A vigil was held to remember those who died while homeless and rough sleeping as charities call for the reversal of cuts to welfare and housing. The Museum of Homelessness (MoH) held the vigil to remember those who died while homeless across the UK in 2023. The vigil took place outside Downing Street.
The charity is calling on the Labour government to reverse policies that have caused thousands upon thousands of preventable deaths in recent years.
The charity is calling on the Labour government to reverse policies that have caused thousands upon thousands of preventable deaths in recent years.
London's Elizabeth Line named Britain's best new building at Stirling Prize 2024
Chowdhury Walk is part of an ambitious programme of new generation council housing by Hackney Council. The development features 11 new two, three and four bedroom dwellings, seven of which are for social rent. A public thoroughfare has also been created for pedestrians and cyclists, providing the community a new way to cross the neighbourhood.
In particular, the homes are built on a plot previously occupied by garages and ad-hoc parking – a nod to Labour’s housing policy to turn neglected br...
In particular, the homes are built on a plot previously occupied by garages and ad-hoc parking – a nod to Labour’s housing policy to turn neglected br...
Government spend on housing at highest level since records began
Government spend on housing has increased to its highest level since records began due to housing benefits, according to a landmark report. The report, the UK Housing Review 2024, known colloquially as the UK’s housing ‘bible’, notes that subsidies should shift away from housing benefits back into investment to creating more social housing.
Government spending on housing in 2021/22 was £30.5bn compared to £22.3bn in 1975/76 – not adjusted to inflation. However, out of the £30.5bn, only 12% of government spending is used to build or improve homes. The rest, or 88%, is used to provide housing benefits.
Government spending on housing in 2021/22 was £30.5bn compared to £22.3bn in 1975/76 – not adjusted to inflation. However, out of the £30.5bn, only 12% of government spending is used to build or improve homes. The rest, or 88%, is used to provide housing benefits.
More than 1,400 people died while homeless in the UK in 2023
The Museum of Homelessness’ Dying Homeless Project uses a rigorous verification process to arrive at the final figures, including analysis of information from coroners’ enquiries, media coverage, family testimony and freedom of information requests to verify details of each case.
The lack of effective frontline services, the MoH argues, contributes to an epidemic of “deaths of despair”, which includes deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide. These makes up 47% of deaths of homeless people whe...
The lack of effective frontline services, the MoH argues, contributes to an epidemic of “deaths of despair”, which includes deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide. These makes up 47% of deaths of homeless people whe...
Labour's Renters' Rights Bill will 'ensure all homes are warm and safe'
Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary, said the bill proposed by Labour would result in “more chaos” and argued Labour cannot fix the private rental market by “tying it in knots with further interventions and directives”.
She referred to a similar scheme in Scotland, the Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill, which she claims had decreased the supply of rental properties and increased rents faster than in England.
“I do appreciate what the government wants to do. It wants to make renting more...
She referred to a similar scheme in Scotland, the Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill, which she claims had decreased the supply of rental properties and increased rents faster than in England.
“I do appreciate what the government wants to do. It wants to make renting more...
How Labour's Renters' Rights Bill is aiming to save renters from 'fear of eviction'
Labour’s landmark Renters’ Rights Bill will close the Conservative Party’s loopholes and stop the “fear of eviction” from hanging over tenants, campaigners have said.
The Renters’ Rights Bill appeared for its second reading in parliament on Wednesday (9 October), and has been generally welcomed by campaigners, MPs and tenants unions.
It’s the first time MPs have discussed Labour’s rent reforms as the party approach their first 100 days in office. The government intends, through the bill, to bring the greatest rebalance of power between landlords and tenants for almost four decades.
The Renters’ Rights Bill appeared for its second reading in parliament on Wednesday (9 October), and has been generally welcomed by campaigners, MPs and tenants unions.
It’s the first time MPs have discussed Labour’s rent reforms as the party approach their first 100 days in office. The government intends, through the bill, to bring the greatest rebalance of power between landlords and tenants for almost four decades.
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