Sammy Gecsoyler

Labour minister falsely linked journalists to ‘pro-Kremlin’ network in emails to GCHQ Exclusive: Josh Simons pressed intelligence officials to investigate reporters, in emails described as ‘McCarthyite smear’

Exclusive: Josh Simons claimed to be “surprised” and “furious” at a PR agency’s work to investigate journalists on his behalf. He had been personally involved in naming them to British intelligence officials and falsely linking them to pro-Russian propaganda. w/ @dansabbagh.bsky.social

I'm looking to speak to a renter in their 20s based in London or the South East for a Guardian feature.

Please email on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com

#JournoRequest

I'm looking to speak to a chef in their 60s based in south east England for a Guardian feature

Please email on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com
#JournoRequest

I'm looking to speak to a renter in their 20s based in London or the South East for a Guardian feature.

Please email on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com

#JournoRequest

UK union accuses GTA maker Rockstar Games of firing employees attempting to organise According to The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, the developer fired more than 30 staff last week for being members of a union-affiliated Discord channel

Busted? @sammygecsoyler.bsky.social reports on the week's events at Rockstar Games:

www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...

‘Brummies united against racism’: poster campaign takes on the far right A message of neighbourly solidarity is thriving in Birmingham against a backdrop of racist intimidation

After a surge in hate crimes in Birmingham, a campaign to fend off growing racism in the city has taken off

“It gave me hope that people stood together and said ‘not in our names’.”

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

I'm looking to speak to a UK renter aged 61-79 for a Guardian story who is happy to be photographed.

Please email on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com to get in touch!

#journorequest

‘Police would like this to go away’: disabled man arrested at Palestine Action event defends protest Mike Higgins, who is 62, blind and uses a wheelchair, was one of 532 arrested at largest demo since group proscribed

EXC: I spoke to Mike Higgins,
who was arrested at last month's Palestine Action demo

“It’s not about me... It’s about trying to stop the killing in Palestine,” said Higgins, who is blind and uses a wheelchair

Theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/06/disabled-man-arrested-palestine-action-protest-police

Meet the revenge quitters: why people are ditching their jobs - and refusing to go quietly From marching bands to TikTok takedowns, employees are resigning in spectacular fashion. While going viral seems risky, some find it opens new doors ...

I spoke to people who quit their jobs in a blaze of glory for @theguardian.com G2 - and delved into why these dramatic exits are on the rise

www.theguardian.com/money/2025/s...

Palestine Action ban protesters plan to make their mass arrest ‘practically impossible’ Defend Our Juries says ‘trick of using street bail’ will not work if participants insist on being taken to a police station

Participants at the next mass demo against the ban on Palestine Action will withhold their details from officers to force en-masse processing at police stations.

Defend Our Juries says this would make it “practically impossible” to arrest everyone.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

‘Do not buy these flats’: residents warn about unbearable heat inside London new-builds Experts say many new homes being built in the UK not designed to withstand extreme summer temperatures

A tale of two towers? We spoke to people living in new builds and council blocks, built decades apart, who face the same problem. Their flats are unbearably hot in the summer.

Not only is this uncomfortable, it can be deadly

With @michaelgoodier.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Some pictures from today. One of my interviews with a woman in her 70s, was cut short when officers made their arrest mid-interview.

Police arrest 365 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisation

My write up of today's Palestine Action demonstration:

“I’m holding a piece of paper, that’s not a terrorist act. A terrorist act is intentionally starving 2 million," one said.

“I don’t know what to say to Palestinians, I’m so sorry it’s come to this.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

I'm looking to speak to people in their 20s who pay £100s of pounds a month to go to a luxury gym (Third Space, Equinox) for a Guardian story.

DM or email me on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com

#journorequest

Man who murdered mother, brother and sister in Luton jailed for at least 49 years Nicholas Prosper, 19, shot his family as part of failed plot to kill 30 children at his former primary school

The horrific details of the case, both the tragic murders and detailed plans to carry out a school shooting more deadly than any such massacre in the US, are hard to express in words

He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 49 years today

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

UK set to tighten gun controls after teenager shot dead mother and siblings Crime commissioner calls for national database after Nicholas Prosper, 19, bought shotgun by forging firearms licence

NEW: The UK is set to tighten gun controls after a teenager bought a shotgun online and killed his family

He was on his way to carry out a school shooting in Luton when arrested with the gun and 33 cartridges

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

‘It clawed the back of my head’: the Hertfordshire village harassed by a hawk Flamstead residents – tall men, in particular – are under attack from a Harris’s hawk that has gone on a rampage

‘It clawed the back of my head’: the Hertfordshire village harassed by a hawk

London councils buy £140m of property to move homeless people out of city Exclusive: More than a dozen authorities have bought more than 850 properties in English towns and cities since 2017

EXC: London councils have spent over £140m buying homes to move homeless people out of city

Most are located in towns already struggling with issues around poverty and housing including Luton, Harlow and Peterborough

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Sam Kerr trial: how a drunken night out revealed questions of race, power and privilege The jury’s verdict to clear the Australia and Chelsea star shows the complexity of cases with a racial charge

I've been covering the Sam Kerr trial, who is the latest person of colour to be charged with a racially aggravated offence in the UK

I wrote about this, and what the case says about power, privilege and police conduct

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Sam Kerr was ‘speaking her truth’ in clash with police, partner tells court Kristie Mewis says the Matildas star was ‘treated differently’ by officers after a late-night taxi dispute and that the pair felt ‘gaslit’

Sam Kerr was "speaking her truth" when she called a Metropolitan police officer "stupid and white", her partner told a court today

Kristie Mewis, who is white, said officers treated her differently to Kerr, who had encountered such treatment "her whole life"

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

English councils pay millions to move homeless families out of big cities Guardian analysis reveals families often given little notice to relocate to already deprived communities far away with no extra support

Great piece by @sammygecsoyler.bsky.social using council invoices data in London and Birmingham. How councils spent millions on companies that take homeless families and move them elsewhere

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Finally, massive shoutout to @tomburgess8.bsky.social who has done brilliant work on the ground in County Durham exposing this shocking practice, which even led to Angela Rayner intervening on the issue.

(6/6)

Councils move hundreds of homeless families out of London with 24-hour ultimatums Campaign group says 319 households accepted tenancy offers outside capital in 2023, with many ‘under threat of being made destitute’

Some families are only given 24 hours to decide whether accept the offer of a new home in another part of the country and are told they will be kicked out of emergency housing if they refuse.

(5/6)

www.theguardian.com/society/arti...

MPs in the north-east, Mary Kelly Foy and Grahame Morris said people were being moved to already very deprived communities with no additional support provided.

Durham County Council said people had been moved to the area from London without their knowledge.

(4/6)

The movement of homeless families, who are disproportionately from ethnic minority backgrounds, into largely white towns, has raised concerns.

@runnymedetrust.bsky.social CEO Shabna Begum called the practice “social cleansing” and “racialised, coercive displacement”.

(3/6)

‘Take this house or you’re homeless’: families sent to a Durham town from London Charity says Horden is ill-equipped to deal with influx of homeless people and community spirit is being exploited

I visited one of these areas: Horden, a former mining village that has fallen on hard times. Many homes are abandoned and the area is struggling with its own social ills. There has been a sharp rise in homeless Londoners being sent there.

(2/6)

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

English councils pay millions to move homeless families out of big cities Guardian analysis reveals families often given little notice to relocate to already deprived communities far away with no extra support

EXC: Councils are paying millions to relocation firms to help them permanently move homeless families out of big cities.

They are often moved to smaller, deprived towns in the Midlands and north of England.

(1/6)

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Uncertain future of PinkNews sparks fears for LGBTQ+ media in UK Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct made against bosses of title billed as safe space for journalists

Sobering piece by @sammygecsoyler.bsky.social on the decline of LGBTQ+ and other minority-focused media in the UK (and the world!)

Home Office trial doubles time refugees have to find home before eviction Charities and politicians praise increase to 56 days but press for move to be made permanent

The Home Office has doubled the number of days newly recognised refugees have to find a home before being evicted from hotels and other asylum accommodation - for 6 months

The move was welcomed but there are calls for this to be made permanent

My piece here:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...

Counter-terrorism police arrest seven in London raids connected to PKK Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey among properties being searched by officers investigating banned group

Concern over the arrests of seven people by Met police for alleged connections to the PKK is growing

Kurdish advocacy groups have condemned the arrests and MP Feryal Clark has raised with matter with ministers

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...